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Neglected health sectors
Pakistan with more than 212 million people and with a growth rate of 2.8 percent stands amongst the top countries of the world where almost 60 million people do not have access to basic health facilities. Moreover, according to some reports 67 million people are compelled to drink unhygienic water which is resulting in waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea. Unfortunately, due to the lack of health centers, 89 percent deliveries cases are handled by traditional birth attendants at home who are unable to manage the complications that may arise. In such cases many mothers and newborn babies face a hard time. This can easily be reduced by establishing basic health centers in rural areas by spreading awareness among the people. Moreover, 90 percent have no basic sanitation. There is one general doctor for 1,837 people, one dentist for 46,898 people, one primary care facilitator for 19, 900 people and one hospital bed for 1,503 people. This shows a clear picture of our vastly deprived health sectors.
It is time now, the health minister should take bold initiatives in this regard.