Health is a prerequisite for development in every field of life. The problems of Jhall Magsi district are similar to that of other areas in the province and the country. The situation is worse for women. According to the health staff, women often suffer from diseases leading a.o. to high maternal mortality (Guinea, obstetrics). Yet, women rarely consult health staff due to the pressure of the social system, the non-availability of female health staff and the lack of resources to diagnose the diseases in time. As a result, women may end up in life threatening situations.

Male babies get better nutrition than female ones, due to social trends. Due to lack of knowledge, it is considered that, as men put in more labour, they need more nutritious food and more attention is given to their rearing. Moreover, in a tribal set-up men also get better food as they are more important. Due to ignorance, no-one knows the effects of malnutrition on babies.

Apparently the majority of the population is severe or moderately malnourished, compared to other parts of the province and the country. Reasons for overall malnutrition include poverty, lack of knowledge and superstitious beliefs regarding the effects of different vegetables and fruits.

	Health Services in 1995
	No. of Doctors	No. of nurses	No. of Para-medical	No. of beds	No. of Units
	M/f	m/f	m/f	m/f
Hospitals
Dispensaries	5 / -		54 / -
RHCs	4 / -		28 / -
BHUs	8 / -		62 / -
MCH Centres
Unit/population ratio

Source: The data is collected from the Development statistics of Balochistan (1994-95) pp.73-78.

In the district of Jhall Magsi health services are provided only at primary level. Health institutions at this level include Basic Health Unit (BHU), Rural Health Centres (RHC), and dispensaries. Secondary level health care like, tehsil head quarter hospital and district head quarter hospitals are not established in the district. Non-availability of secondary level facilities in the district has adverse effects on the population. Primary health care includes duties like prevention of diseases through community health programmes, curing of minor diseases and provision of emergency medical services.

The medical staff does not have the statistical overview of number of patients-contacts per year available. According to them only Rs. 2.50 is spent per patient per year. Vaccination is rare in the district. Family planning services are not enough available, nor is data regarding death rate, life expectancy, infant mortality and maternal mortality. The basic reason for the non-availability of data is the lack of facilities provided by the government, the lack of awareness among the masses and the non-functional health management information system (HMIS)

Following are the major diseases of the district Jhall Magsi.

1. Malaria is the major disease of the area. It is related to the poor hygienic and sanitation conditions within the district. It takes epidemic shape in the period from mid April to mid May. According to rough estimates of the medical staff 100 percent of the population suffers from this disease.
1. Another major disease of the district is Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI). The disease spreads during winter season. Eighty percent of the population suffers from this disease. Dust is the basic cause of this disease.
1. Nearly 40 percent of the population suffers from worm infections. The basic reason for these diseases are un-hygienic conditions and polluted water.
1. Gastritis and ulcer: At least 60 percent of the population suffers from gastritis. Especially diarrhoea is very common. The basic reasons are lack of knowledge of hygiene and bottle feeding of infants.
1. On the fifth place are dermatologic diseases, especially scabies, which are mainly caused by dust pollution.

Six vaccine preventable diseases, i.e. TB, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and measles must be mentioned here; mortality among children under 5 years of age, caused by these diseases, is still very high. EPI is one of the biggest preventive health programmes run for the last 20 years.

Special health services are not available in the district on permanent basis. The Prime Minister’s Primary Health Care-Family Planning Programme is launched through the province, but it hasn’t reached Jhall Magsi district yet.

In the district of Jhall Magsi, a District Health Officer (DHO) with its office is posted at Gandawah. He is responsible for primary health care. Medical officers are posted in Basic Health Units and Rural Health Centres. Dispensers are in charge of the dispensary.

Legend: - no involvement

The availability of health services in the district is very poor. There are only primary health care facilities in the district. Secondary level health care services are not available at all. There are no tehsil headquarters hospitals, nor district headquarters hospitals. No X-ray, laboratory and operation theatre facilities are available in the district. Facilities regarding immunisation are only available through the provincial EPI programme.

At present, there are no female medical officers posted in the district. Either posts are vacant or female doctors against the posts are attached to some other hospitals outside this district. No specialists are posted in any hospital of the district. Lack of lady doctors keeps the health conditions of women deteriorated.

The population of the district is poor and lacks proper awareness regarding health. It does not have adequate access to health facilities. Neither are they able to go to other places for this purpose. The district is badly in need for more medical facilities.

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