Women and children, the initial victims

For the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), who have been displaced by the conflict affecting this region, there is little chance of returning to their native village. The local health system is very fragile and cannot cope with such an influx of refugees. There are also many natural disasters in the region: floods, landslides and earthquakes, which increase population movement and delay access to care. As is often the case, women and children are the most affected: only 30% of them have access to care. Too many women die during pregnancy or labour, from haemorrhages, various infections or from eclampsia. Too many children die from asphyxia at birth, from diarrhoea or from pneumonia in their early years.

A taboo subject

In the east of the country in the Punjab, cultural and religious practices prevent young girls from obtaining family planning. In this region, where a quarter of the population is between 9 and 19 years old, women are married very young and have many early pregnancies. There is an enormous need for advice and sexual and reproductive healthcare, yet the social workers struggle to address these issues.