ACCESS to child healthcare and education is a challenge primarily in rural areas of the country and many families simply cannot afford basic healthcare or education.

It is likely that today’s economic catastrophe, especially the increase in food prices, will have a widespread negative impact on children’s education and health.

The situation of child health in Pakistan is abysmal, and serious efforts are needed by the government and civil society to save lives of thousands of children who die every year from preventable diseases.

Medical reports reveal that one child dies every minute from EPI (expanded programme on immunization) diseases, diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). They also reveal that every year about 400,000 infants die in the first year of their life.

Child health in Pakistan is among the most important national issues that need serious attention. Child mortality in a major cause of concern, with every one among 10 children dying before reaching the age of five and one among 30, just after they are born.

The main reason at the back of mounting child mortality in Pakistan is lack of child healthcare facilities in rural areas, where the majority of population lives.

Low state spending on healthcare, abject poverty, low literacy, lack of skilled birth attendants, widespread communicable diseases, insufficient emergency child health services in government-run district and rural hospitals are amongst other major reasons behind growing diseases in children.

Maternal, newborn and child healthcare statistics in Pakistan are some of the poorest in South Asia. A holistic approach is needed to improve maternal and newborn health, mainly by improving and upgrading facilities at the district hospitals.

Most common and lethal diseases in Pakistan include ARTI, viral hepatitis, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, scabies, goiter, hepatitis and tuberculosis. Among ARTI victims most vulnerable are children whose immune systems have been weakened by malnutrition.

In order to save lives of children, paediatric institutes should be opened in all districts of Pakistan, where emergency services along with trained child disease experts should be made available all the time.

DR HASSAN ANJUM SHAHIDPresident, Young Physiotherapists Association, PunjabLahore