PESHAWAR, Dec 9: Pakistan has one of the highest maternal mortality in the region and the hospital data suggests that it has apparently not declined in the last 40 years, said Dr Nabeela Ali, programme manager of the Save the Children, USA, here on Saturday.

Studies have shown that newborns whose mothers die are eight times more likely to die themselves than those whose mothers live, she said.

“About 9.6 million infants die before or just after birth each year of which deaths five million occur during the first 28 days of life and 3.4 million in the first week.”

She was speaking at an orientation workshop on “State of the World’s Newborns: Pakistan”, organised by Pakistan and Afghanistan unit of Save the Children, USA.

Provincial Health Secretary, Muhammad Salim Khan, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Talking about the high mortality ratio of children, Dr Nabeela said every minute somewhere in the world 10 babies die in the first month after birth, 7 babies die within their 7 days of life and 10 babies are stillborn.

Mr Bruce Rasmussem, field director Pakistan, while lamenting the pathetic child mortality situation in Pakistan, said that about five million children die every year in the country.

“A majority of the children and mothers are vulnerable to diseases and death in Pakistan,” he added.

Muhammad Salim Khan, NWFP Health Secretary, said that like other developing countries, Pakistan too was faced with problems in the health sector. He cited financial constraints as the chief reason for this.

He, however, said the NWFP government was giving much attention to the health sector. He called for joint efforts by the private and public sector for improving the overall healthcare system.