Rahim Yaar Khan Pilot Project

Making Health Services Work for the Poor in Pakistan: Rahim Yar Khan Primary Healthcare Pilot Project*

1.1 Pakistan’s Health Status
The health status of Pakistan is characterized by a high population growth rate, high incidence of low birth-weight babies and maternal mortality. The severity of health poverty is closely reflected in the country’s poor health indicators. In 2002, infant mortality rate is 82 per thousand live births; life expectancy is 63 years. Although country’s health indicators improved over time but its pace has been very slowed (see Table 1). Maternal mortality rate is also high at 350-435 per hundred thousands births, largely because 78 percent of births take place at home, under the care of traditional birth attendants. The proportion of low birth weight babies was 25 percent; child mortality rate is 95 per thousand and proportion of under 5 malnourished children is 39; about 10 million children under five years are malnourished resulting in 61 percent being stunted, 39 percent being under weight and 9 percent being wasted. The country’s health indicators depict a dismal picture when compared with other countries at the same level of development.

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http://www.sbp.org.pk/reports/quarterly/fy04/Special%20Section%201%20RyKhan%20Health%20Projec.pdf