PAEDIATRIC EMERGENCY CARE

HEALTH PROFESSION RELATED ISSUES & SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN RURAL AREAS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Pakistan is an agricultural country and 2/3rd of its population resides in rural areas.1 Total population of Pakistan is estimated to be approximately 18 million with a gross national income (GNI) per capita of $1360 and poverty headcount ratio of $1.25 a day PPP % of population of 12.7 %. 2 A significant data has been ublished in both national and international journals on the issues of common and preventable paediatric  ealth problems. Similarly international health organisations have published extensive statistics on common
paediatric problems in developing countries such as high infant and child mortality rates.3 Poverty, lack of health education, political instabilities and lack of basic health needs such as clean drinking water and proper sanitation all have been discussed at length as the major contributory factors to the poor state of health in children of developing countries. Although these factors play an important role in improving child health
care, less emphasis has been put on the factors which are directly related to health professionals,
health institutions, health governing bodies and medical training organisations.