Muzaffarabad, (Parliament Times) : The Muriam Mother and Baby Health Center is being established in District Jehlum Valley, AJ&K. The district has 3 Tehsils, 13 Union Councils with an approximate population of 800,000 people. It has a total population of 0.8 million with 69% literacy rate. The target project area is Union Council Lamnian consisting five villages including Khorian, Jandala, Nagan, Saroopa and Mohri. The Muriam Mother and Baby Health Centre is an initiative being implemented by Sustainable Development Organization (SDO) in loving memory of departed soul Ms. Muriam Touseef ( 1989-2021). Muriam’s family came together to raise funds for a project in her memory that will benefit communities for years to come, as an act of Sadaqah Jariyah. Muriam Touseef tragically passed away due to Covid-19 while pregnant. She leaves behind two small children and a devastated family.
Under the project Muriam Mother and Baby Health Centre local organization SDO has established Health Management Committees (HMCs) and provided orientation sessions to HMCs members. The center is being facilitated with the health care equipment including Duck Speculum(CUSCO) Medium, Scissor Dressing 6″, Tanuculam, Utrine Sound, Sim Speculum (D/E) Small, Kidney Tray 10″, Bowl 4″, Episiotomy Scissor 7″, Surgical Scissor Mayo STR 7″, Sponge Holding Forceps, Tooth Forceps 6″, Needle Holder 7″, Cord Clamp Artery STR 7″, Kidney Tray 10″, Bowl 4″, Stethoscope, Saphegnomeno meter, Examination Coach, Instrument Trolley Iron, Dust Bin Cap, Foot Step (2-Step), Apreen Sheet , Foot Step (Single Step), Stool Iron, Feto Scope, Sterilizer, Kidney Tray Steel, Bowl Steel, Large Size Tray Steel, Office Table, Office Chair, Bench (Medium Size), Visitor Chairs (Plastic), Rack for Medicines & equipment’ , Oxygen Cylinder, Cylinder Regulator, Baby Caught, Suction Machine, USG machine, delivery table, IV stand and screen. The center will directly facilitate 4,500 women and 2,500 children of five villages of UC Lamnian including 22,000 indirect beneficiaries of adjacent areas.
The state of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has manifold health issues including lack of infrastructure, modern health equipment and qualified and trained medical human resource. Particularly, in the remote areas of AJK like union council Lamnian the status of maternal and child health is poor. Approximately, 15 women die each year due to pregnancy related causes. During last 4 months 7 New born babies died during birth and one woman has been left infertile during pregnancy due to carelessness of untrained local practitioner (DIA).There is no single labor room, Basic Health Unit (BHU), or MHC surrounding the village of Khorian, and there is not even a private level Maternal Health facility / services of surgeon / gynecologist in the whole UC.
The establishment of Muriam Mother and Baby Health Centre will pave way for future health interventions in District Jehlum Valley and it will help move the district towards up-to-date health and care infrastructure capacious enough to cater for the need of the vulnerable community.
