Health Department District Sanghar & Tando Allahyar
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Oversight Report Health Department District Sanghar & Tando Allahyar June 2014 This report was made possible with support from the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents is the responsibility of Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of USAID or the U.S. Government. II Acknowledgements Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF)” is implementing Citizen’s Voice Project, in collaboration with USAID, under cycle 04, with thematic area “Citizens’ Voice and Accountability for Youth Development”. Main objective of the project is to aware youth about their health issues. We are very thankful of all members of Taluka and District Youth Councils in Sanghar and Tando Allahyar district, who are rendering their volunteer services to raise and advocate issues, related to youth at various levels for its resolution. We are grateful to CVP Team, for providing their continuous attention and kind feedback in finalization of this Report. We are also thankful of the health department officials of both districts who providing important data, which is a great support for us to understand the issues facing by the Youth. 1 List of Abbreviations SDF Sustainable Development Foundation CVP Citizen`s Voice Project USAID United State States Agency for International Development TYC Taluka Youth Council DYC District Youth Council BHU Basic Health Unit THQ Taluka Head Quarter DHQ District Head Quarter GD Government Dispensary 2 Table of Contents Title page……………………………………………………………………………………i Disclaimer………..…………………………………………………………………………ii Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………...…………iii List of Abbreviation………………………………………………………………………...iv Table of Contents...………………………………………………………………………...v Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1 Background .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2 Project Description ....................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2: Oversight Methodology.................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 3: finding of the report ........................................................................................................ 8 Chapter 3: Major Health Problems .................................................................................................. 8 Staff at Facilities ............................................................................................................…...5 Genral Observations .....................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.............................................. 6 Challangesand Recommendations ...................................................................................... 6 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 7 Picture Gallary……...………………………………………………………………………8 Annexure…………...……………………………………………………………..………10 3 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background Youth account for around 18% of world population. Developing world houses majority of youth population. Asia and Africa alone have62 and 17 percent of the world youth respectively.1 As majority of world’s youth lives in developing countries, they are faced with multitudes of problems such as social, economic and political problems. Figures reveal that around 40 percent of world youth are unemployed.2 This could be because they come from areas which do not train them according to market needs of modern times. While importance of youth as future has been emphasized, no practical steps have been taken to train them to secure the future of young generation. In order for youth to be effective in future, they should be partners in present and should be provided with training and education meeting the present day market needs. Any one between 14 to 25 years is recognized as young globally. However, in Pakistan any one between 15 to 29 years is considered youth. 1998 census shows that around 62 percent of the population falls under the age of 29, of which 41.81 percent are counted youth (Labor Force Survey, 2009).3 The net primary enrollment stands at 57 percent whereas 13-15 percent of the youth are able to complete secondary education.4 The literacy rate at the age of 10 stands 57 percent. As per UNDP’s Youth Census, 32 percent of Pakistan youth is illiterate and 9.5 percent are unemployed.5Only 0.5 percent of youth goes to top universities which indicates that a great number of youth do not attain good education. As a result they are unable to get good job in the market. This shows that youth in Pakistan is facing problems similar in other developing countries. They lack social, economic, political civil and civil opportunities which could help them live a dignified life. There is also a positive aspect of huge number of youth population. It could be used for socio- economic development to the extent that it could take Pakistan to new heights of development. For that to happen, Pakistan has to invest intensively in youth development. The youth development programs should focus on education, health and job creation. If this is done, Pakistan can achieve rapid progress. It is a documented fact that the countries that invested heavily in youth development achieved a quick and sustainable economic growth. However, failure in channeling the youth population in right direction will result in reversal of social benefits and economic development. A well-established relation between youth unemployment and violence can be seen 1http://undp.org.pk/pakistan-undp-and-youth.html 2 ibid 2http://www.cyc-net.org/features/ft-Pakistanyouth.html, see also http://pc.gov.pk/feg/PDFs/youth.pdf 2http://www.aepam.edu.pk/Files/EducationStatistics/PakistanEducationStatistics2010-11.pdf 2 http://undp.org.pk/pakistan-undp-and-youth.html 4 from the prevailing unrest and law and order situation in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh (mostly notably in Karachi and upper Sindh in tribal conflicts). Moreover, youth can become a catalyst of change in political culture of the country. Being largest section of the population, youth are also the largest number of eligible voters. Despite that, youth’s participation in politics in general and elections in particular is marred with disillusionment. The disillusionment is result of poor governance which has failed to deliver, on one hand, and the education system which does not include the importance of politics and political participation. So if youth are activated and their potential is properly groomed and utilized, they can play their role in strengthening democratic culture and institutions in the country. However, such a role of youth can only be realized by investing heavily in youth development, particularly in education which should also focus on politics, not just economics. State of youth in Sindh is quite similar to rest of Pakistan. It would not be exaggeration to say that youth’s conditions in Sindh are rather appalling as the state of governance in the province is second worst to Balochistan. Although there are no specific figures available, yet youth suicide has become common due to lack of employment and other issues in the province. There is widespread illiteracy, absentee teachers and ghost schools. There are three public universities covering higher education needs of 23 districts. This shows that achieving higher education is still a distant dream for majority of the youth in Sindh. As Pakistan has fallen on human development index to rank 145th, Sindh has also fallen to 3rd number in provincial ranking of HDI. While earlier SPSI reports ranked Sindh 2nd after Punjab in HDI ranking of provinces. The Sindh government does not have any youth specific development policy. However, Government of Sindh along with Youth Affairs Department is running some youth specific program notably Benazir Bhutto Youth Development Program under the Chief Minister Secretariat. Even then, the initiatives taken by Sindh Government are not sufficient as majority of the youth in the province are living in poverty and are vulnerable to poor health and nutrition. Given this background, the project will target Sanghar and Tando Allahyar districts. Both these districts do not pose good picture of human development and opportunities for youth development are also scare. Majority of the population depend on agriculture and there is a dearth of other employment opportunities. Youth in both districts on one hand do not have avenues for social and education development and on the other hand are constrained by lack of employment opportunities. There are hardly any skill development centers which could train youths of the area in different vocations. As a result, there is an abundance of illiteracy and unemployment among youths in the targeted area. District Sanghar is mainly an agrarian district except large and small part of Taluka Khipro and Sanghar. Small industries like cotton factories, flour mills, rice mills, rice mills, oils mills, ice factories, match factories, juice factory and one sugar mills do exist in the district. There is widespread illiteracy.. Similarly, there is a shortage of health facilities in the district.. There is limited industrial base consisting of small and medium industries in the district. As a result there is widespread youth unemployment