Maternal deaths

A recent UNFPA report reveals a deeply distressing reality: more than one million women in Pakistan who previously had access to contraception now lack it. This is largely because donor support has been slashed in half, reducing vital funding for reproductive health services from $9.4 million to just $4.5 million. Historically, Pakistan has been one of the worst sufferers of the consequences of neglecting reproductive health. In 2020, a UN progress report placed Pakistan among the top three countries with the highest rates of maternal and new-born deaths and stillbirths. According to the WHO, 675 babies under one month old and 27 mothers die daily from preventable complications. In addition, the country suffers from over 190,000 stillbirths each year. This harrowing data paints a bleak picture, one that demands immediate action from those in power.

The government must immediately allocate emergency funding for reproductive health services, which have been drastically underfunded and underserved. It must seek alternative donor agencies to fill the gap left by the reduction in foreign aid, ensuring that life-saving services are not interrupted. It must also empower local Lady Health Workers, who are often the first point of contact for rural women, by offering them proper training, incentives and resources to carry out their critical work in family planning and maternal health. A nationwide public awareness campaign is also crucial to break the taboo surrounding family planning, making it a normalised, accessible service for all citizens, irrespective of their social or economic standing.

Majid Burfat

Karachi