THATTA, Feb 24: US Consul-General Catherine Rodriguez, during her visit to Thatta coastline on Tuesday, expressed concern over deteriorating condition of health and education facilities, particularly for rural women, and sea intrusion into the coastal area.

Ms Rodriguez, accompanied by PPP MPA Humera Alwani, was briefed about the declining graph of public health in Thatta district and Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan Hospital, Mirpur Sakro. She was told that maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) were highest in Sindh and Thatta was on the top.

She was told that blood deficiency, loss of blood during delivery, food deficiency, hyper tension and improper maternal healthcare were the reasons behind the MMR.

She was told that there were only three maternity homes in the district with a population of 1.5 million. These centres were without sanctioned budget and running short of staff. She was told that for the entire district population, there was only one gynaecologist.

The district, where population growth rate was 2.6 per cent and fertility rate 41 per cent with 84.5 per cent population living in rural areas, had only one doctor for 5,726 people and one female paramedic for 29,545 people, she was told.

Later, she was briefed that the literacy rate of district was also deplorable, which was six per cent among female population.

The US diplomat also visited sea intrusion sites at Keti Bandar, Hajamro, Tikaband and Ghorabari.

The revenue officials and some members of civil society told her that the main reason of sea intrusion in lower Sindh areas has reduced fresh water flow in Indus River, she was told.

Water discharge in the lower Indus region in 1892 was 185 cubic kilometres per year or 150 MAF per year, she was told.

In 1932 the discharge was 105 cubic kilometre per year (85.5 MAF), in 1960 the flow was reduced to 80 cubic kilometre per year (64.5 MAF) while in 1970 it was reduced to 43 cubic km per year (35 MAF). In 1992 water flow in Indus river was 12 cubic km per year (10 MAF), in 2008 only sand flowed in the river in the shape of air borne particles, during 9 out of 12 months. During the last 100 years water flow got reduced in the lower Indus region by 93 per cent.

The Consul-General said her country would make every effort and cooperation for the economic uplift of the tail end district of Sindh and she invited the MPA to visit the US consulate for exclusive briefing on the subject and under the USAID programme, special packages would be extended on the subject.