Women are turning up at Kashmore's health facilities to receive free medication and immunisation Mother and Child Health Week (27 April - 3 May), a Health Ministry initiative, is under way in several districts of Pakistan’s southern Sindh Province aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. Local religious leaders are helping to get the message across.
A large number of new and expectant mothers are turning up at Taulka Hospital in Kashmore, capital of the district of the same name in Sindh Province, to receive free medication and immunisation as part of the campaign.
“Without involving the clerics, it’s not easy to get our message across. People already have these misconceptions that the vaccination drops, Tetanus Toxoid (TT) shots, or even ORS [oral rehydration salts] will affect their reproductive system or make them impotent,” said Ahsan Akbar Dhani, district coordinator of the National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care.
“Even the Imams [Islamic religious leaders] have children and wives, and the health issues faced by them are also faced by people in their locality,” Dhani said.
He said engaging the Imams would help people in the long run. “In the communities here, the word of a cleric carries more power than anyone else. Why not use their influence and clout for a healthy cause.”
The campaign is being implemented in Qamber, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Umerkot and Badin districts of Sindh in partnership with government bodies and local and international NGOs.
Apart from free check-ups, vaccination services and awareness raising sessions, door to door campaigns are being carried out so that a large number of women, newborns and infants can be reached.
Flyers
Flyers targeting Islamic religious schools (madrasahs), their teachers and mosque heads have been distributed. Printed in Sindhi and Urdu, the leaflets set out how thousands of children are dying needlessly before they reach their fifth birthday.
The leaflets urge clerics to join the battle against ill health by stressing in their sermons the importance of cleanliness, good hygiene, hand-washing, TT inoculations for mothers, immunisation for newborns, as well as deworming.
A footnote says: “Cleanliness is important in Islam. By acting according to the Islamic injunctions, we can create a healthier environment. May Allah always give us the strength to stay clean and protect ourselves and others from diseases as well as disseminate information with regards to health and hygiene, Amen”.
“We have distributed these flyers in hundreds of homes and shops. It’s important that people have access to health. I am also taking my siblings for a check-up as going to a private doctor is expensive,” said Mohammad Ali, a young religious studies student, adding that the Imam at his madrasah had told them to distribute the flyers.
Disclaimer:This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States.
Photo: Copyright IRIN
