Infant, Maternal Death Rates Still High – Afghan Paper

Text of an article by Seddiq Zaliq in English entitled: “Public health services lacking in rural areas”, published by independent Afghan newspaper Kabul Weekly on 23 July

Infant and maternal mortality rates are still high across the country despite claims by the Public Health Ministry that 85 per cent of the population has access to health care. After Sierra Leone, Afghanistan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world with at least 1,600 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to UNFPA and UNICEF. Infant mortality rates of children under the age of five also remains alarmingly high.

During the government’s annual accountability week, Public Health Minister Amin Fatemi reported that before 2001, only 9 per cent of Afghans had access to health services compared to 85 per cent today. Critics say this figure does not match with the reality on the ground. Health Ministry spokesman Dr Abdullah Fahem said there’s been a 27-per-cent decrease in the death of newborns. “Five years ago, this figure was 165 out of 1,000,” he said. “Currently the figure is 129 out of 1,000.” Faheem added that infant death among children five years old and younger was 275 per 1,000. Today, it is 190 per 1,000. “But even these numbers are comparable only with some African countries,” he said.

Malnutrition, tuberculosis and polio are among the leading causes of infant deaths according to Ministry of Public Health records.

While the deaths caused by tuberculosis decreased from 23,000 in 2001 to 125,000 [figure as published] in 2007, and polio decreased from 137 cases in 2001 to 10 cases in 2007, malnutrition remains high especially when compared to other countries in the region. Public health officials say cases of HIV are also on the rise. While an estimated 435 cases have been registered, officials fear the numbers are much higher.

“We have six HIV centres across the country,” said Faheem. “From what we can see, there’s been an increase in the number of HIV cases in the country.” Faheem said an estimated 2,500 Afghans are HIV positive.

The Ministry of Public Health cites the creation of dozens of new health centres as its biggest achievements. According to published reports, there are 1,426 health centres across the country providing full and basic services. In 2001, there were very few health clinics.

Provincial residents say they do not have access to health care. In a meeting between President Karzai and residents from Deh Balah, Nangrahar, villagers complained that not a single clinic existed in their immediate vicinity. Residents travel for miles to reach health care. In addition to the long distances patients must travel, services are minimal and medicine is hard to find in remote areas.

Dr Nazahudeen Jamil, an adviser to the Takhar Health Department, said health care access has improved. “A lack of medicine remains a major problem,” he added. “In some areas residents have to walk for three to four hours to reach a health centre.” According to Mohammad Musa, a resident of Kohband area of Kapisa, the lack of a village clinic poses a big problem in his district. “We do not have a clinic that can meet all the needs of our residents,” he said. “Often we take our patients to the provincial capital. There is one health centre in our districts, but it does not have equipment, medicine and professional employees. That’s why it cannot provide residents with full service.”

According to an AREU report, more than 82 per cent of residents who live in remote areas do not have access to basic health care.” The officials of the ministry say that in order to have health coverage for residents of all areas of country, Afghanistan needs 3,000 health centres.

According to Fahem, in order to provide health service for all citizens the Ministry of Public Health needs 880m dollars annually. The ministry’s current annual budget is 150m dollars.

Originally published by Kabul Weekly in English 23 Jul 08, pp 3,4.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring South Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.