Women suffer worst health impacts of Pakistan floods

Millions of women in Pakistan are still struggling with disease and worsening health as large parts of the country remain underwater or severely damaged by devastating floods.

- STUTI MISHRA

Women and young girls who survived the August flooding are suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIS), reproductive issues, and other health complications, activists from Water Aid Pakistan told the Cop27 summit as negotiations in Egypt turned to the gendered impacts of the climate crisis.

Three months on, stagnant water, unhygienic conditions, poor sanitation and a lack of access to medical facilities continue to impact women's health. One woman with an underlying health condition who couldn't access health facilities due to widespread damage from the floods was advised by doctors to have her uterus removed. Another woman said she feared for the life of her unborn child, the aid agency highlighted in its report chronicling the challenges of the victims.

"The doctor advised me to remove my uterus because it is infecting other parts of my body too. We have lost everything in the floods, and we cannot afford any such surgery," Rasheeda, 45, a resident of Dadu district of Pakistan's Sindh province, said.

The activists are calling for leaders and ministers assembled at Sharm el-Sheikh for the two-week climate summit to channel finance towards water, sanitation and hygiene projects in vulnerable countries such as Pakistan so that women and girls who are bearing the brunt of climate change - can better cope with its impacts.