By Jawaid Ali
Daniel B. Baker, Representative, United Nation Fund for Population Activity (UNFPA) speaking as a chief guest at Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry recently said that UNFPA is involved very intimately and closely. The rapidly rate of population growth in Pakistan is a threat for all of us. The country cannot sustain in terms of employment, education, health and in maintaining such a high population growth rate.
The recognition that the Prime Minster of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani gave to Dr. Islam Hamid, Chairman Health & Education Sub-Committee for his work is very significant.
He further said that if all of us are summoned and told about our responsibility that the society has all the benefit. In fact we all look our role as a parent for example our obligation to nurture, be able to provide education healthcare for the children. We recognize that we can do better with few children. When all of us recognize this then the population growth rate will be decline like in other countries. This is happening in Pakistan and we hope that we will reach the rate set by the government i.e. reaching the population growth of 1.3 percent by year 2020.
Programs such as population welfare department putting in public service aspect griming and teaching conceptive to the people at large is very important but you as an employer has equal responsibility.
UNFPA is involved in many countries of the world developing public private sector cooperation much stronger than it is today.
There is need to educate that delayed age for first birth, birth spacing protects the lives of women. There is also need to educate men also because men tend to shy away from talking about these issues. Both men and women should share this responsibility and it is very important.
Fortunately, Pakistan has very low rate of infection as compared to other countries, but it can be changed in overnight just like it has changed in many countries. We don’t want to happen this in Pakistan.
UNFPA helps in term of health promotion in preventing HIV/AIDS. UNFPA is responsible for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV. Sexual transmission is through two modes i.e. transmitting HIV through injection and other is by sexual transmission. If we stop these two modes then we can stop HIV which is a major problem in our country.
He urged to teach workers and employees about HIV and its prevention. Early age marriage is very wide spread in Pakistan therefore sexually transmitted disease exits in Pakistan. Addressing family planning, high population growth, prevention of HIV, poor reproductive health are the responsibility of all of us.
Zara Hassan, Director General, Population Welfare Department, Government of Sindh said that Population Welfare Department of Sindh in collaboration with UNFPA signed a MoU for the establishment of family welfare centres. It will be the backbone of the program. Population Welfare Department Sindh has more than 580 family welfare centres. Out of these 38 are established in different hospitals.
We have another service delivery i.e. RHS-A Centre and the service delivery units are spread all over in Sindh. Basic objective of RHS-A Centres is to provide reproductive health coverage to married women, mobilize and motivate them for contraceptive surgery if they are willing.
Ministry of Population Welfare Department is paying Rs.1500 per client to the RHB Centre when contraceptive surgery cases are undergoing.
In the next five years, we are planning more PPSO Centres. The basic purpose is to utilize the vicinity of the industries and provide the human resources, medical facilities and contraceptive surgery.
Dr. Shehnaz from UNFPA in her presentation said that UNFPA is promoting the right of women. UNFPA is working on safe motherhood and family planning and providing different strategy and support to the Ministry of Health and Population Welfare Department to increase the access availability of quality health services and family planning.
UNFPA is providing financial and technical assistance to health and population departments of 11 districts to improve the services round the clock.
We are ensuring reproductive healthcare in the range of contraceptive through reproductive health commodities, security programs at their doorsteps.
Earlier, Dr. Islam Hamid, Chairman Health & Education Sub-Committee, KCCI on the occasion said that KCCI has sort out a plan to establish a modern hospital. It will be equipped with latest technology and the development will start soon.
KCCI is actively participating in progressive activity regarding the education and health sector. MoU was also signed between KCCI, Minister of Population Welfare and Population Welfare Department Sindh. KCCI and Ministry of Population Welfare Department had organized various seminars and workshops.
Prime Minister of Pakistan acclaimed the efforts of KCCI and appreciated with the award of honour. He further said that collaborative efforts of public and private are required to control the population growth.
KCCI is the main representative body of private sector. It is the premier chamber of the country and the main representative body of the industry and business community in Karachi which provide more than 60 percent revenue to the national sector. It has more than 60000 direct members and 40000 indirect members who represent major trade bodies in Karachi.
KCCI appreciate the efforts of UN in investing in the human capital and more particularly in female population of the country.We are aware of the current level of growth i.e. 1.8 percent as compared to 3 percent of early years. It needed to be brought down further to 1.3% by the year 2020.
KCCI has been actively working with Ministry of Population Welfare and development programs for the last three years. KCCI has achieved tremendous success in getting cooperation of private sector with population welfare programs. More than 200 MoUs have been signed with Ministry of Population Welfare for the cooperation in population development programs.
Twenty seven locations are identified for the opening of family welfare centres in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and NWFP.
The private sector plays main role as a catalyst in awareness building in relation of population welfare. The role of private sector should be enhanced as a social orbiter.
Training, integrated quality, primary healthcare, reproductive health, family planning services, mobile unit services should be made mandatory in remote areas. We are ready to work on awareness building, training and advocacy to distant learning programs.
Prime Minister of Pakistan presented award to Dr. Islam Hamid for rendering exemplary services in health and population welfare.