UNICEF and WHO's profiles of health in Pakistan reveal that the population suffers from diverse health issues stemming from poverty, lack of education, and lack of access to medical care. Women and children in poor and rural areas of Pakistan are the most vulnerable. For example, the maternal mortality rate is 276 per 100,000 live births (vs. 17 in the US). Despite the severe issues in healthcare public health expenditure in Pakistan is only 0.54% of GDP.
APF has prioritized meeting the immediate and long-term health needs of those affected by the devastating flooding in Pakistan. APF will focus on long-term strategies for providing access to healthcare for the affected communities.
BRAC
APF is working with BRAC to provide medical supplies and tools for the prevention and care of diarrhea, cholera, fever, skin infections, and other water-borne diseases. The spread of water-borne diseases in the aftermath of the floods is an immediate health threat facing communities. BRAC's health staff in Pakistan have the training to identify symptoms and provide necessary medication and tools for prevention and care. BRAC will build up its inventory of medical supplies through APF support, including water purification tablets, medications, antibiotics, IVs, bandages, and other equipment, and
provide medical care to approximately 5,000 individuals.
About BRAC
BRAC is a development organization, founded in Bangladesh in 1972. Over the course of its evolution, BRAC has established itself as a pioneer in recognizing and tackling the many different realities of poverty. BRAC has developed support services in the areas of human rights and social empowerment, education and health, economic empowerment and enterprise development, livelihood training, environmental sustainability and disaster preparedness. BRAC operates social enterprises that are strategically connected to their development programs, and form crucial value chain linkages which increase the productivity of their members’ assets and labor, and reduce risks of their enterprises. BRAC began operations in Pakistan in 2007 through a microfinance program and now also operates programs in health and education. BRAC is currently serving about 437,465 people in 14 districts of the four provinces of Pakistan. BRAC’s microfinance programme has 88 branch offices, and 45,011 women borrowers. The health programme trains local health workers and volunteers to provide basic health care and health education to families and communities. BRAC’s 20 pre-primary schools have more than 600 students, about 61% of them girls.
Click here to read more about BRAC's work in Pakistan.
