PESHAWAR, Dec 28: Health experts at a workshop titled “maternal and neonatal health care in crisis situation” have called for devising a strategy for provision of better health care facilities to expecting mothers and newborn children in conflict- and disaster-hit regions to stop deaths of mothers during deliveries.

The two-day workshop organised by Rahnuma-FPAP, an NGO, in collaboration with the UNFPA concluded here on Thursday evening.

The speakers said that the line agencies, particularly the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, should develop a standard operating procedure to ensure timely health facilities to women during pregnancy in conflict-stricken and far-flung districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The speakers included Gohar Zaman, regional director, Rahnuma-Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Lubna Tajik, provincial coordinator officer, UNFPA; Dr Nabeela Dar, quality assurance doctor, FPAP; and Dr Roshana.

A total of 23 officials of health department, representatives of NGOs and donor agencies participated. Mr Zaman explained about his organisation’s activities and advocacy services for provision of healthcare facilities.

In her presentation on maternal and newborn health in pre- and post-crisis situation, Lubna Tajik said that a timely decision to seek care, reach a health facility and receive appropriate treatment could prevent high complications in delivery and reduce the ratio of women mortality.

She suggested that a referral mechanism must be adopted to overcome pre-and post-maternal and neonatal health care issues in far-flung areas due to troubled conditions. Referring to a study, she said that around 50 per cent of maternal deaths occurred after delivery, while the same ratio of newborn deaths happened in the first 24 hours.

Speaking on minimal initial services package (MISP), Tauqeer Mustafa of Rahnuma-FPAP called for provision of all medical facilities to expecting women and newborns in crisis situation. He suggested that the PDMA should develop an SOP under its contingency plan for disaster-hit areas to ensure better maternal and neonatal healthcare facilities.

Dr Nabeela Dar and Dr Roshana said the MISP for reproductive health was a set of priority activities to be implemented during disaster and conflict situations to ensure better health coverage to expecting mothers.