Reduce Maternal & Infant Mortality in Pakistan

HDF's Community Health Center (CHC) in Karolwar village, Lahore now has a much needed labor room, providing ultrasound services, an equipped observation room, and patient examination room. In addition to this, 347 Antenatal Exams were conducted, and 2,547 women of reproductive ages were immunized were fully immunized.

Medical camps and educational seminars were held to educate mothers about vaccinating their children. 80% of immunization refusal cases were educated and agreed to receive TT and EPI vaccinations. Approximately 600 children have received immunization or vaccination services from this health center this year.  Almost 2,000 children have received growth monitoring, and a Supplement Camp was held to routinely administer various multivitamins to pregnant ladies and nursing mothers. De-worming medications were given to malnourished children ranging from six months to ten years.

To address the lack of access to basic health services for community members, HDF’s work in Swat Valley Pakistan enables the delivery of a preventative and curative interventions for mothers and children. According to UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Report on Pakistan (2008), 100 of every 1,000 children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province die before their fifth birthday. Many of these children die due to preventable diseases like diarrhea; pneumonia; acute respiratory infections; water-borne illnesses; malaria and skin infections.

During the health seminars and household visits, children – especially in rural areas – receive immunizations and de-worming medications. Mothers are counseled and trained on caring for their newborns, basic hygiene skills, and on how to identify and treat diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea.



Since the beginning of 2014, the following activities and achievements have taken place:

• 1,844 households were visited by Lady Health Workers
• 531 Antenatal Checkups were conducted
• 31 Post-Natal Exams were conducted
• 1,677 children under the age of 5 were monitored for growth
• 821 children were fully immunized
• 2,774 women of reproductive ages were immunized for TT
• 31 babies were delivered
• 6 community health seminars for mothers and children took place

Social mobilization activities ensure that vaccination campaigns reach out to eligible children that are immunized against preventable, life-threatening diseases. HDF continues its dedicated efforts in comprehensive healthcare to assist community-based basic maternal, neonatal and child health services.