Karachi 27th Sep, 2019: Addressing a seminar on World Contraception Day at Dow University of Health Sciences, experts said, the rapidly growing population in Pakistan is extremely harmful to both mother and baby. This is adversely affecting the economy of the country. Pakistan tops the list of those countries where maternal and infant mortality occur the most during childbirth and delivery. The seminar was arranged according to the joined project of National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health and Path Finder International in collaboration with Dow University of Health Sciences at Arag Auditorium Campus. Experts say a gap of at least three years between the births of children is essential. Doing this, we will not only be able to control the growing population, as well as help to reduce the health and mortality rates of mothers and babies.
The seminar was attended by Principal Dow Medical College Prof. Amjad Siraj Memon, Vice Principal Prof. Sumaila Khalid, Head professor of Gynae ward at Dr. Ruth Pfao Civil Hospital Prof. Nusrat Shah, Dr. Tabina Sarosh from Path Finder, Head doctor of New Step at NCMNH Dr. Maryam Waqas, Dr. Sadia Paul, Dr. Azra Ahsan, Ms. Raheel Saeed, Dr. Zofeen Ibrahim, and other experts and specialists joined the seminar while famous actor Sania Saeed hosted the event.
Experts told that celebrating this day around the world began in 2007, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of family planning and its benefits. Experts say growing population is having bad effects on children’s education, health and environment. If the interval between child birth is increased to 36 months, the mortality rate for children under five is 25% and if the interval is kept up to 24 months, this rate can be reduced by 13%. Family planning during maternity leave can reduce one third of mortality rate. 2.2 million Women in Pakistan are forced to have abortions due to complications.
Experts added that early marriages in Pakistan cause complications and deaths during pregnancy. In addition to this, Pakistan’s population is growing in want of a baby boy. According to a survey, 17% of married ladies want to use contraception, but not using it. Experts further said that after childbirth, they should be provided with family planning methods as well. Only 34% of married people in Pakistan are using different methods of family planning, out of which only 25% of use it effectively. This rate is much lower than Pakistan’s rising population rate.
At the government level, efforts are being made to increase this rate to 50% by 2020. According to the 2017 census, Pakistan’s population was 208 million, growing at an annual rate of 2.4 percent. We rank as the sixth largest country in the world by population, but our number will soon be approaching 5th. Experts said that Pakistan’s area is 0.6 percent of the world, while the population is 2.6 percent.
One of the major problems of Pakistan is the unskilled staff, which does not provide such important information properly among the local public. Or because such centers are not established nationwide, it is the responsibility of every street doctor to not only collect this information but also to inform people about it and also to dispel negative thoughts. Experts said that the government is giving special importance to this and is conducting training sessions everywhere.
Experts added that using family planning methods does not cause complications, nor cause infertility or any other disease. Pills taken for this purpose do not lead to obesity, but to a balanced diet. It is important for all of us to aware people and explain the benefits of this information to people. One of the tragedies of our society is that a woman gets honor only when she becomes a mother.
