The Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) hosted a pivotal event to unveil two critical reports aimed at improving healthcare services in Pakistan. The first report focused on strengthening Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) in health facilities, while the second assessed the availability and management of family planning commodities across the country. The reports highlight crucial areas for development and outline the steps needed to enhance services for maternal and child health and family planning.
The comprehensive assessments, conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), evaluated over 460 health facilities across Pakistan. These reports aim to inform future policies and programs, ensuring better services for mothers, newborns, and families. IHHN’s partnership with UNFPA involved digitizing assessment tools, enabling real-time data collection and updates via digital dashboards. Dr. Jamil Ahmad Chaudhry, Program Specialist at UNFPA, emphasized the significance of the assessments, stating:
“The purpose of this exercise is to collaborate with provincial governments and visualize the efforts needed to meet Pakistan’s global commitments, such as increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate from 34% to 60%.” He stressed the need for strengthening both maternal healthcare services and the availability of family planning commodities to achieve these goals.
The findings were well-received by government representatives, who recognized the reports’ potential to guide future decisions and improve public health outcomes. Dr. Zafar Zaidi, CEO of IHHN, underscored the importance of EmONC, calling it “a cornerstone of maternal and child health.”
He emphasized that timely and effective care during childbirth is a moral imperative, stressing that strengthening EmONC services and ensuring safe birth spacing are essential for ensuring the safety and health of mothers and children. The event saw participation from senior government officials from provincial Health and Population Welfare Departments, federal representatives, and experts in maternal health, family planning, and reproductive health from the development sector.
The gathering facilitated a robust dialogue aimed at addressing Pakistan’s family planning challenges and ensuring better health outcomes for its population. The reports come at a crucial time for Pakistan, where maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high. In 2019, Pakistan’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 140 deaths per 100,000 live births, and the neonatal mortality rate stood at 39 deaths per 1,000 live births. Family planning remains a top public health priority, with the country committed to increasing its contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) to 60% by 2030.
