PESHAWAR, July 9: Speakers at a workshop stressed awareness regarding pre- and post-natal care. “It is a matter of concern that the women do not visit health facilities for pre- and post-natal check-ups that results in health problems for them and their newborn babies,” said NWFP Information Minister Asif Iqbal Daudzai, while addressing the workshop here on Saturday.

The event entitled “Results sharing workshop on saving newborn lives”, was organized jointly by the health department and Save the Children.

The minister said that the government was committed to improve the health care facilities and had made development of infrastructure aiming at promotion of mother and newborn health part of the national health policy.

He said that the bulk of funds allocated for mother and child health care remained unspent, nevertheless the provincial government had allocated more than seven per cent of its total budget for the health sector.

NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan stressed coordination among donor agencies to prevent overlapping of activities. The province, he said, needed funds to activate its health facilities at the grass-roots level.

He said that pregnant women had to cover a long distance to reach a health facility even in cities, what to say of the rural areas. “We need assistance for mother and child health facilities at basic health units and dispensaries, so mothers and their newborn babies could get treatment at their own localities,” he said.

The minister said that the government was spending a huge amount on the development of district headquarters hospitals.

Dr Amanullah of the Save the Children said that his organization was working in Pakistan since 1985. Over the last four years some 10.2 million children and women had been vaccinated against maternal and neonatal tetanus in 61 districts under its Saving the Newborn Lives (SNL) programme.

Besides, he said that over 3,100 healthcare providers had been imparted training in 21 districts on maternal and newborn care, which has delivered tangible results.

Dr Mohammad Rafique said that his organization also supported small-scale research projects aimed maternal and child health.