Accelerated action in maternal and child health in Pakistan
Bashir ul Haq
Maternal and child care in developing countries assessment, promotion, implementation Proceedings Third International Congress for Maternal and Neonatal Health, 1987, Lahore/Pakistan: 61-65
1989
Document Number: 368873
At the time of independence in 1947, Pakistan had only 133 maternity and child health centres, 722 dispensaries and one public health nurse training school. This amounted to 855 facilities focused on primary health care for a population of 32 million. Until 1960, little change was evident. However, between 1960-75 development in the health field took a positive turn. The philosophy of creating centres at the basic rural level with peripheral sub-centres was approved in 1960/61, and maternal and child health (MCH) was added as a focal component. Since 1976, the pace of establishing primary health care facilities (with MCH) has been stepped up, and further accelerated between 1983-88. Primary health care has been enhanced both qualitatively and quantitatively since 1986 to meet the objectives of the Five Point Programme for development. Complying with its mandate, each union council or geographic territory was to be given a basic health unit or rural health centre by 1990.