Health statistics are not readily available. Health service statistics are not uniform, but depend on the source. Different sources give different information. From the overview of sanctioned and filled posts in Annex 8 it is clear that there is a real gap between the intended number of staff and the reality.

Source: DHO office Bolan at Dhadar

Based on the health service statistics Bolan district is in a comparatively poor situation. Women, in particular do not have access to adequate health services. For instance, even though four female doctors have been sanctioned, since 1993 Bolan has not had any female medical practitioner.

The five most frequent occurring diseases are diarrhoea, malaria, gastro-enteritis, tuberculosis and hepatitis. Major factors accountable for the high incidence of these diseases are illiteracy and bad hygienic conditions. Illiteracy, particularly among women, has adverse effects on family hygiene, nutrition, health, family size and education of children. There is a high rate of infant and maternal mortality. Diseases like diarrhoea, tuberculosis and hepatitis are closely related to the unhygienic conditions prevailing in households. Diarrhoea leads to a high rate of infant mortality. There are no preventive measures against malaria and hepatitis. Tuberculosis is common among people over the age of 40.

Gastro-enteritis and hepatitis are contracted from contaminated drinking water. People and cattle often drink from the same sources. Even in towns like Bhag is clean drinking water a problem. It is quite common that people have to fetch water in drums and cans on donkey-carts from tanks at distances of more than one km away. Gastro-enteritis is common in rural and urban areas.

There is no information about the supply of special health services within the district.

The district administration of health services is headed by a District Health Officer. In its supervising capacity, the DHO Office can play an important role in the effective and efficient functioning of hospitals and dispensaries. The hospitals in Bhag and Dhadar come under a Medical Superintendent.

Legend: - no involvement

x minor involvement

xx substantial involvement

xxx major involvement

The health sector is underdeveloped. In spite of the increase in expenditure on health, there is high rate of infant and maternal mortality. The frequency increases with which infectious diseases like gastro-enteritis occur. Malaria, jaundice, diarrhoea and TB are common. The health infrastructure is not adequate, particularly for women. The district has four posts for female doctors in the MCH Centres, but none of them is filled , as there are not any female medical practitioners who are willing to work under the bad circumstances in these centres.

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