More than 47,000 pregnant women affected by the floods in Pakistan are in shelter camps across Sindh province, local media citing the provincial health minister reported on Sunday.
Sindh Health Minister Azra Pechuho has shared statistics of women affected by the flood. She said hundreds of thousands of people have contracted various diseases after the floods.
“More than 134,000 cases of diarrhoea and 44,000 cases of malaria have been reported in the province,” she added, as reported local media.
On August 30, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a sexual and reproductive health agency, said that at least 650,000 pregnant women, of whom 73,000 were expected to deliver this month across the country, in the flood-affected areas were in dire need of maternal health service.
Pechuho further said over 100,000 skin-related, 101 snake bites and 500 dog bites have been reported so far among flood affected, reported by local media.
The UN agency had also warned that many women and girls were at an increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV) as almost one million houses were damaged in the floods that spelled suffering for millions across Pakistan.
“Up to 73,000 women expected to deliver in September will need skilled birth attendants, newborn care, and support,” the agency had said as reported by local media.
It added that pregnancies and childbirth cannot wait for emergencies or natural disasters to be over as this is when a woman and baby are vulnerable and need the most care.
Pakistan, this year has faced unprecedented floods, which have affected nearly 33 million people in the country and left tens of thousands of people displaced. Due to internal displacement, more than 500,000 people are currently living in relief camps across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Punjab.
According to a report released by the health officials on Saturday, more than 134,000 diarrhea cases were reported from Sindh in the past two months.
Similarly, the official stats show that 44,832 malaria cases were found during monsoon rains since June this year. It added that 101 snake-bite cases have also been reported.
