In areas affected by the floods and monsoon, everyday at least 60 women have life-threatening pregnancy complications that require urgent medical assistance, but the maternal and child health services in at least 40 percent of health facilities are currently disrupted. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates say that at least 1.2 million women of reproductive age are among the 5 million people affected by the heavy monsoon rains and floods across Pakistan. At least 115,000 are pregnant and everyday close to 400 women go into labor whereas at least 60 have life-threatening pregnancy complications. Certain districts, now submerged, had high malnutrition cases even before the floods. Here, women already severely anemic will be more prone to complications with their pregnancy and delivery.
With the continuing rains and stagnant standing water, pregnant women and newborns are increasingly exposed to malaria and dengue in open air. In the face of the rapidly worsening circumstances, UNFPA is collaborating with humanitarian partners to deliver reproductive health and protection services to women and adolescent girls. According to a press release issued by the UNFPA, its supplies to cover the reproductive health needs of 600,000 people for one month have been dispatched to Sindh and are being distributed in seven severely affected districts where the number of women is highest.
The Fund is urgently mobilising more medicines and essential supplies to reach the affected communities. Twenty five mobile service units are being moved to seven of the hardest-hit districts in Sindh: Badin, Khairpur, Mirpur Khas, Nawabshah, Umerkot, Tando Muhammed Khan and Tando Allahyar Khan.
These vehicles are equipped to provide primary health care, basic emergency obstetric care and services handling gender-based violence. Support will be scaled up to provide comprehensive obstetric services through health facilities in a second phase.
“UNFPA ensures that women are able to deliver safely even in times of disaster. While our role remains the same whether in emergency, early recovery or development, in a humanitarian crisis our work become even more urgent as the vulnerability of women and girls is increased. In the relief camps, women and children make up more than 70 percent of the camp population. UNFPA is working to ensure that the protection needs of displaced women and adolescent girls are not forgotten. Women are scared to go out, especially at night; hygiene and latrines are big issues at the moment,” said the press release.