HYDERABAD, March 2: Provincial Women Development Minister Tauqir Fatima Bhutto has said that health is a big issue confronting women of Sindh in addition to social problems.

Speaking at a programme held at the dispensary of the Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam on Saturday, the minister said their issues did not get such attention that was given in development countries.

She said thousands of women died in rural areas of Sindh because of non-availability of timely healthcare, lack of knowledge about different health issues and myths.

She said that since mothers remained ill and did not have access to quality healthcare facilities, they gave birth to sick babies.

She said she would take up the matter with her party leadership regarding collection of toll tax at Tandojam, describing the tax an additional burden on people.

She appreciated facilities in the university dispensary and promised full cooperation for its upgrading. She said people were aware of their problems and Sindh’s youth needed to play their role in development of the province and give due status to women of their families. She announced that the dispensary would be provided required equipment in a week from her ministry.

University Vice-Chancellor Dr A.Q. Mughal said the varsity did research on livestock, crops and plants because they were linked with human resources.

He said healthy environment was necessary for people and for that to happen, institutions like agriculture university needed to be strengthened.

He said that since university’s dispensary was equipped with the required equipment, its results were on a par with those of the Aga Khan laboratory. He said it was a hospital and not a dispensary and directed its in-charge to provide him a list of stuff needed there.