Health Awaran
Introduction
The health facilities in Awaran district present a very bad picture. Not a single hospital is functioning in the area. There is not a single lady medical officer posted in the district.
|
|
Health Services (1997) |
|||||
|
|
No. of Doctors (m/f) |
No. of Nurses (m/f) |
No. of Paramedics (m/f) |
No. of Beds |
No. of Units |
|
|
RHCs |
5/0 |
0 |
67 |
16 |
2 |
|
|
Dispensaries |
|
0 |
|
0 |
9 |
|
|
BHUs |
|
0 |
|
0 |
5 |
|
|
Sub HCs |
|
0 |
|
0 |
2 |
|
|
MCHC |
|
0 |
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
Private Clinic |
n/a |
0 |
n/a |
0 |
n/a |
|
|
Total |
- |
0 |
- |
16 |
- |
|
|
Unit/population ratio |
- |
0:180,135 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Source: |
District Health Officer and Medical Superintendent, DHQ Hospital, Awaran |
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Health System
In Awaran, health services are provided through 5 Basic Health Units (BHUs), 2 Rural Health Centres (RHCs) and 9 civil dispensaries. In addition there are 2 Sub Health Centres and one Mother Child Healthcare Centre. These units function under the direct supervision of a District Health Officer (DHO), whose post is lying vacant at present. Private clinics are also serving at Awaran, Mashkai, and Jhal Jhao. Many people go to faith healers and saints for treatments, specially in the areas where no health facility exists.
Major Disease Incidence
In Awaran, the disease pattern is seasonal. In summer malaria, gastrointestinal diseases, gripes, and dysentery are very common. Eye diseases are also reported. In winter, acute respiratory infections (ARIs), jaundice, and tuberculosis are observed. The main causes of these disease are unhygienic living conditions, unavailability of safe drinking water, and lack of awareness about the diseases. Paediatric diseases in Awaran include diarrhoea and ARI.
Special Health Services
Special Health Services are provided in the area through medical camps arranged by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) in collaboration with the Health Department. The Prime Minster’s Programme for Basic Health and Family Planning could not be launched due to unavailability of educated girls. Moreover, parents do not allow their daughters to work in this field.
Administration of Health Services
The health administration is a task of the District Health Officer (DHO). All the BHUs, RHCs, and MCHCs function under his control. A Senior Medical Officer supervises the Rural Health Centre.
GO/NGO/private, etc. involvement in Health Development
|
Health Facility |
Loc. Govt. |
Prov. Govt. |
Fed. Govt. |
NGO |
Private |
Internat. Donor |
Total |
||
|
Civil Dispensaries |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
9 |
||
|
Basic Health Units |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5 |
||
|
Rural Health Centre |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
||
|
MCH Centres |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
||
|
EPI Centre |
- |
x |
xx |
- |
- |
- |
n/a |
||
|
Family Welfare Clinic |
- |
xxx |
- |
x |
- |
- |
n/a |
||
|
Private Clinic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
xxx |
- |
n/a |
||
|
Hakeem/Local Medical Practitioner |
- |
- |
- |
- |
x |
- |
n/a |
||
|
Health Houses |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0 |
||
|
Chemists |
- |
- |
- |
- |
xxx |
- |
n/a |
||
|
Source: |
District Health Officer, Awaran and HMIS |
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|
Legend: |
- x xx xxx |
no involvement minor involvement substantial involvement major involvement |
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Conclusion and major Development Issues
The district is very much deprived of health services. Even at the district headquarters only a Rural Health Centre is functioning with very limited resources. No hospital or other secondary health care facility exists in the entire district. No lady doctor is available in the district. The mortality rate is very high, though not officially reported . Eye diseases, malaria, jaundice, diarrhoea and tuberculosis are very common. The present health facilities do not fulfil the requirements of the area. The major reasons include the lack of funds and unavailability of senior medical staff. The issues can be solved by providing funds and appointing doctors in the health centres.
Awaran is a district where it is hard to talk about women’s health concerns separately because the situation is equally grim for men and women. Absence of a lady doctor and the fact that the PM’s Programme for Primary Health Care and Family Planning does not function in this area, considerably contribute to the fear that women’s (and children’s) health is absolutely threatened.