Writer: Asim Shahzad
Qureshi,Islamabad
In the 21st century we have advanced medication, medical technologies, qualified
health professionals but still, many people continue to suffer needlessly from
preventable and easily treat able diseases. Like many countries, in Pakistan
access to health care is limited and people living in rural areas often have the
hardest time accessing the most basic health services. This is where the health
workers on the frontlines make a difference. Frontline health workers can be
midwives, community health workers, health extension workers, physicians’
assistants, pharmacists, peer counselors, clinical officers, nurses, and doctors
who workat the community level. They are usually the first point of care for the
members of their community are providing health care in many of the hardest to
reach areas, often traveling on foot with just aback pack of supplies, providing
needed prevention, treatment, and health education to communities.
These are our frontline to care, educate, protect and saving the lives of many
people, we together can save more lives and move towards the MDG4 and 5, by
support, appreciate themand raise awareness about the important role of health
workers every where.
Although the Pakistan have initiated the LHW and CMW program but still there is
need to mobilize communities, partners, and policy makers in support of health
workers and increase the number of CMW and LHW to approach to the masses for
reduction in infant, child under 5 and maternal mortality in Pakistan.
Additionally, we need to knock at the door of policy holders and those who are
in power to familiarize them about the issues, the challenges that they face
every day and most importantly there is need to ensure that health workers have
the training, supplies, and support they need to do their jobs effectively.
The primary function of the LHW is to provide immunizations and treat common
infections. They also teach their communities simple ways to prevent the biggest
threats to their community’s health: diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, HIV, and
tuberculosis. As the first point of contact, health workers are also able to
recognize conditions that require higher levels of care, and can refer their
patients to another medical professional.
On the basis of all points above which easily narrate the importance of health
workers, we urge from the community members to respect, facilitate and support
the health workers at the community level as they are savior and caretaker, we
urge to the Government to support them, protect them pay them, train them, equip
them and increase the number to deal with the grave issue of infant, child under
5 and maternal mortality in cost effective manner and step towards the MDG4&5.
“Together we can keep Pakistan Happy and prosperous”