Urgent Health Concerns in Umerkot: Malnutrition and Anemia Prevalent Among Children

UMERKOT, August 08, 2025- A free medical camp organized by AWARE in collaboration with Transparent Hands and funded by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has revealed troubling health conditions among the rural population of Umerkot — particularly among children.

The free medical camp, held in village Essa Mangrio, Union Council KS Atta Mohammad Palli, provided essential healthcare services to 366 individuals, including 192 children (ages 0–15), 86 men, and 88 women. Alarming levels of malnutrition, anemia, and kidney stones were found among children, highlighting a serious public health concern that demands immediate attention from health authorities and policymakers.

In total, 33 lab tests were conducted by a skilled medical team from Transparent Hands, including Dr. Abdul Rahim, Dr. Rabia, and Dr. Moomal, supported by trained medical staff. Diagnoses included:
• Severe malnutrition and anemia
• Kidney stones
• Diabetic-related eye and skin infections
• Respiratory and viral infections, including asthma
• Common illnesses such as fever, headaches, stomach issues, and joint pain
The AWARE team — comprising Ms. Nusrat Rajab Ali, Sachal, and Babu — facilitated the outreach, mobilization, and onsite support, ensuring the camp’s effectiveness in delivering timely healthcare services to underserved populations.

“This initiative has exposed critical gaps in rural healthcare access, particularly for children and women,” said a representative from AWARE. “We urge the Health Department of Sindh, district administration, and other stakeholders to take immediate action to ensure regular healthcare interventions and nutritional support in remote areas like Umerkot.”
The collaborative effort underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing deep-rooted health disparities and reaffirms AWARE’s commitment to improving health outcomes for marginalized communities.