According to this Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) news article, a Health Ministry initiative is underway in several districts of Pakistan’s southern Sindh Province of Pakistan aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. Local religious leaders are helping to deliver the message. As reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in the province's capital, Kashmore, expectant mothers are arriving to receive free medication and immunisation as part of the campaign.

The campaign, implemented as a partnership of government bodies and local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), helps counter the false information that vaccinations such as Tetanus Toxoid (TT) or even oral rehydration salts (ORS) will affect a woman's reproductive system or make her infertile. Apart from free check-ups, vaccination services, and awareness-raising sessions, door-to-door campaigns are being carried out so that a large number of women, newborns, and infants can be reached.

A flyer campaign is under way with a focused message for Islamic religious schools (madrasahs), their teachers, and mosque heads. Printed in Sindhi and Urdu, the leaflets urge clerics to join the battle against ill health by stressing in their sermons the importance of cleanliness, good hygiene, hand-washing, TT inoculations for mothers, and immunisation for newborns, as well as deworming.

The message includes as a footnote: “Cleanliness is important in Islam. By acting according to the Islamic injunctions, we can create a healthier environment. May Allah always give us the strength to stay clean and protect ourselves and others from diseases as well as disseminate information with regards to health and hygiene, Amen”.

Global Health Weekly Update on May 11 2009.
Photo: Sumaira Jajja/IRIN