KHAR, Nov 8: Speakers at a seminar here on Friday called upon the government and local health department to accelerate efforts for providing basic health facilities to the women and children in Bajaur Agency.

The seminar was arranged as part of `mother and child health week` being observed by the local health department in collaboration with the Unicef at the agency headquarters hospital.

Tribal elders, leaders of political parties, representatives of Unicef and officials of health department attended the function.

The speakers included agency surgeon Dr Zakir Hussain, agency coordinator national programme for family planning and primary health care Dr Ikramullah Safi, tribal elders and religious scholars.

They highlighted the importance of creating awareness of mother and child health among the tribesmen. They expressed concern over the lack of health care facilities and shortage of doctors and other staff in health units of the agen-cy, particularly in remote areas.

The speakers urged the government to provide health care facilities to tribesmen like people in other parts of the country. They also demanded of the health authorities to resume routine immunisation campaign against diseases like measles, diphtheria, neonatal tetanus etc.

The agency surgeon claimed on the occasion that the health department was taking interest in providing modern health facilities to the women and children of the agency and all possible means were being used for this purpose. He said that the aim of observing the `mother and child health week` was to create awareness among tribesmen of the health issues and provide them treatment against various diseases.

He said that teams of doctors and paramedics, including 72 vaccinators, were taking part in activities of the health week with the aim to minimise mortality rate among children and pregnant women.Correspondent