KARACHI: Highlighting challenges being faced by lady health workers (LHWs) in the province, health department officials at a meeting held on Friday suggested immediate increase in the number of LHWs to improve their reach and efficacy.

The meeting chaired by Health and Population Welfare Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho was held to review the progress of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services in the province.

Among others, it was attended by parliamentary secretary for health Qasim Siraj Soomro, secretary of health Dr Kazim Jatoi, DG health services Dr Irshad Memon and deputy director general of RMNCH services Dr Zulfikar Ali Dharejo.

The meeting discussed in detail the role and services provided by LHWs, lady health supervisors and community midwives.

‘Sindh LHWs’ vehicles are being used by other officials’

It was informed that the province faced a shortage of LHWs and that over 2,000 of their posts were vacant.

Their reach and efficacy in a population of 20 million was 48 per cent and that this percentage must be increased so that more people could access affordable health services.

A presentation was also made during the meeting which showed that there were 3,348 community midwives and 22,576 LHWs and lady health supervisors in the province, providing basic healthcare even in the most remote and difficult regions.

The maternal mortality rate stood at 153 per 100,000 live births and the contraceptive prevalence rate was 41pc. The clients being referred for family planning was 2.88pc. Seventy-six per cent deliveries were being attended by skilled birth attendants.

It was suggested that the areas requiring the most assistance and services of LHWs should be surveyed and LHWs should be trained accordingly.

Details about the Sindh LHW programme vehicles being used by other officials (not affiliated with the programme) were also shared during the meeting.

The minister was informed that a thousand more LHWs were recruited in Thar after the drought to provide much-needed healthcare services in the region.

The minister lauding LHWs’ services during the Covid-19 pandemic agreed with the suggestion to increase their number to meet the demands of local population.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2021