MITHI: Speakers at a moot urged the Sindh government to make concerted efforts to address main factors behind unabated deaths of infants and pregnant women in Thar and stressed that poverty itself was a serious issue which needed to be eradicated by those who were eying the area’s coal reserves.

They were speaking at an event organised by the White Ribbon Alliance Pakistan at Thar Press Club here on Monday.

Ali Akbar Dars, provincial coordinator of the alliance, said that anaemia and malnutrition had always been among the grave issues of Thar. The government, therefore, must prioritise the problems, which were now assuming alarming proportions in the vulnerable area of the country, he said.

Comrade Nandlal Malhi, a local PPP leader, said that unfortunately, poverty was still the fundamental cause behind all problems in Thar. Poverty itself was a serious issue which must be eradicated.

He urged the leadership of his party to announce and implement projects and special packages for the area, which might help people improve their living standard.

Dr Chandar Lal, district health officer of Tharparkar, claimed that his department was providing the best healthcare to people in Thar and tried to shift the blame for incessant deaths of babies to early marriages. “Early marriage is the main factor behind unabated deaths of newborns,” he claimed.

He claimed the health department was trying to create awareness among people about disadvantages of child marriages.

Social activist Kirshan Sharma held official incompetence responsible for the deaths of babies and expecting mothers. Due to poverty, pregnant women remained deprived of a healthy food intake three times a day, he said.

He said that only sincere and long-term policies with special focus on health issues could help save lives in Thar.

Dr Ashok Bhakhani said that lack of blood among infants was a big issue which often led to deaths.

Mama Vishan Thari, a well-known local activist, lashed out at the authorities concerned for their failure to provide quality food and medicines to the patients who were rushed to hospitals and said that anaemia was a burning issue of Thar.

He urged the Sindh government to issue health cards to Thari women like the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to save lives.

Nand Lal Lohano said that infants were still dying in government hospitals and urged construction of modern health units in every union council of Thar to avoid further deaths.

Published in Dawn January 24th, 2017