CHITRAL, Sept 18: Maternal mortality rate has gone up in Chitral with about 600 mothers dying every year in the district owing to lack of medical facilities and untrained midwives. This was stated at the concluding session of a seven-day training workshop organized by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme for midwives here on Sunday.

The participants were of the view that an intensive training programme should be chalked out to check the high rate of maternal mortality.

Jointly sponsored by $10, a US based organization, and the SRSP, the workshop was attended by 22 voluntary health workers from different villages. The ceremony was presided over by Dr Rehmat Aman, deputy district officer (health). District eye specialist Dr Mehboob Hussain was the chief guest on this occasion.

SRSP regional programme coordinator Saleem Shah, social organizer Noor Ajab Khan, school monitoring officer Salahuddin Saleh also addressed the gathering.

Dr Habibur Rehman and Dr Israr highlighted the importance of training for midwives and appreciated the role of the SRSP and the $10 organization for its generous grants to hold the workshop.

Dr Mehboob Hussain stressed community mobilization for mother and child care. He said that there should be effective follow-up programmes of the workshop and more workshops of this nature should be arranged in remote areas of the district.

Dr Rehmat Aman appreciated the efforts of sponsors of the training workshop and said that to arrest the high mortality rate in Chitral such workshops play vital role. He said that coordination of midwives with government functionaries would be ensured to bring about a positive change in the area of family health.

Regarding the objectives of the training workshop, Noor Ajab Khan said that it was designed so as to enable birth attendants to conduct clean and safe deliveries in hygienic conditions, create awareness about symptoms of dangers in pregnant women and to deal with them.

Bib Amen tendered vote of thanks on behalf of the participants and stressed refresher courses.