10,000 women in Pakistan die of complications during pregnancy every year: health minister

ISLAMABAD: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday said every year 10,000 women in Pakistan lose their lives due to complications during pregnancy.

He revealed these figures while speaking at an event held in connection with World Health Day in the office of World Health Organisation (WHO).

“These are silent tragedies happening across the country, with little to no public outcry,” the minister said, adding that “if such a high number of deaths occurred due to any other cause, our national response would be very different. We cannot afford to lose even a single life due to maternal causes.”

He stressed the urgent need for both individual and collective efforts to prevent these avoidable deaths, saying, “every life is precious and must be protected. These women can be saved.”

Highlighting the weaknesses of the healthcare system, Mustafa Kamal said: “Pakistan’s health system is not in a healthy state. But we are hopeful with systemic reforms, we can save lives. I do not consider this position a privilege, but a test. I want to pass this test with honesty and commitment.”

He also addressed the issue of child stunting, stating that 38pc of children in Pakistan suffered from stunted growth, a condition that threatened their ability to play an active role in the country’s future.

“Without investing in the health and nutrition of our children today, our dreams of national progress will remain unfulfilled,” he added.

The minister emphasised the importance of WHO’s partnership in achieving improvements in Pakistan’s healthcare system.

“With the support of the WHO, we are committed to making meaningful progress in maternal and child health,” he added.

Mr Kamal said the health sector was directly connected to human lives; mistakes in other fields could be corrected, but in health, the consequences were immediate and profound.

He reiterated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made healthcare a top national priority.

“The prime minister is taking serious steps toward healthcare reform. Under his leadership, we are committed to delivering a stronger and more equitable healthcare system,” the minister said.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2025

from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/vjpeZrA

Comments

The Republican primary race for president in 2024

The Republican primary race for president in 2024 is already shaping up to be a competitive one. There are a number of high-profile candidates who have already announced their intention to run, and more are expected to join the field in the coming months. The frontrunner for the nomination is former President Donald Trump. Trump has been teasing a 2024 run for months, and he has a large and loyal following among Republican voters. However, he is also a polarizing figure, and his candidacy could alienate some moderate Republicans. Another potential contender for the nomination is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis has been praised by many conservatives for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his opposition to vaccine mandates. He is also seen as a rising star in the Republican Party. Other potential candidates include former Vice President Mike Pence, former Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Senator Tim Scott. Pence is a more traditional Republican who could appeal to moderate vote...

Ministers rubbish notion that proposed retirement age extension to favour ‘one particular institution’

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday rubbished the notion that a proposed extension in the retirement age was to favour “one particular institution”, adding that the move would be implemented across the board if approved. The rebuttal comes in the wake of media reports claiming that the government was mulling changes to the Constitution to fix the tenure of the chief justice . Currently, judges of the Supreme Court, including the chief justice, retire after attaining the age of superannuation, i.e. 65 years, as stipulated in Article 179 of the Constitution. While giving his opinion recently on the reports of the constitutional amendment, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had said he “will not vehemently turn down the proposals related to the tenure of the chief justice”. Addressing the issue during a press conference in Islamabad today along since Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the law minister, Attaullah said the extension in the retirement age was “a proposal to a...

Taylor Swift cheers on Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs game as ‘Eras Tour’ movie opens in theaters.

Taylor Swift took a break from promoting her new movie "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" to cheer on Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs at their game against the Denver Broncos on October 12, 2023. Swift was seen in a luxury suite with Kelce's mom, Donna Kelce, wearing a red Chiefs jacket. This was Swift's third Chiefs game of the season, and she has been seen cheering on Kelce from the sidelines on several occasions. The two have been rumored to be dating since early 2023, and they have been spotted together at a number of events. The Chiefs won the game against the Broncos 19-8, and Swift was seen celebrating with Kelce and his teammates after the game. She also took some time to meet with some of the Chiefs fans who were waiting outside the stadium. It is clear that Swift is a big supporter of Kelce and the Chiefs, and her presence at the game was sure to thrill fans of both. It is also interesting to note that she took time away from promoting her new movie to ...

Infinity Social Updates

Search This Blog