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which results in 40,000 deaths every year, higher than in any other country in
Asia. The average age of cancer patients in Pakistan is between 30 to 40 years
which is lower than the worldwide average. According to experts, 90 percent
cases of breast cancer are curable if they are detected in time and properly
treated.
Social taboos attached with medical examination prevent timely detection
of the disease and its treatment. Lack of treatment facilities at all but a few
hospitals across the country was also a factor leading to the high fatality rate.
Health
HIV/AIDS
HIV is not an epidemic in Pakistan but the number of infected persons is
definitely growing. The National Aids Programme figures show that 4,000
cases had been reported between 1986 and 2012. However, the figures are
believed to be much higher because of lack of reporting on account of the
stigma attached with this disease.
Measles
According to the United Nations, while the number of measles deaths
around the world has significantly decreased over the past few years, large
outbreaks in certain areas including India and Pakistan are hampering progress.
The UN also added that improved vaccination rates are critical to eradicating
the disease. Between 2000 and 2011, measles deaths dropped from 542,000 to
158,000 globally, representing a 71 percent decrease. New cases also dropped
during the same period by 58 percent, according to data released by the WHO.
However, the agency warned that despite global progress, some populations
remain unprotected, with an estimated 20 million children lacking vaccination.
More than half of them are concentrated in five countries: Pakistan, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India and Nigeria.
Pakistan suffered record child measles deaths in 2012 when 306 people
died, compared to 64 measles deaths in 2011. In Sindh, 210 children died
from measles compared to 28 in 2011. A WHO spokesperson stated: “Most of
the affected children died due to post-measles complications such as pneumonia,
post-measles encephalitis and diarrhea.” Three consecutive years of flooding
have left millions of children unvaccinated and malnourished to resist infections.
The spokesperson said that floods, displacement and food shortages had played
a major part in the deaths.
Oversight
Pakistan has been facing a continuing trend of “privatisation” of the health
sector. In essence, the reliance on private healthcare has increased and it now
forms the considerable portion of healthcare services. The spectrum of private
healthcare includes physician-practitioners, maternity homes; dispensaries,