RAWALPINDI: Speakers on Friday said with the support of civil society organisations the government could remove barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health information and facilities that negatively impact lives of women and adolescent girls.

Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (Poda) organised an event titled ‘Health for All: SRHR For Women and Girls in Pakistan’ in connection with World Health Day.

A large number of people representing all walks of life, including university students, health workers, mediapersons, health experts, lady health workers and women representing rural communities participated.

Poda Executive Director Sameena Nazir said the foundation of a society’s progress was its healthy citizenry.

She urged the government to increase its annual per capita health budget to ensure citizens’ access to quality healthcare, especially rural women and adolescent girls.

“We must not forget women and girls’ health and hygiene needs in the Annual Development Plans (ADPs) at the district level because a country’s well-being depends on healthy citizens,” said Ms Nazir.

Afshan Tehseen, child and human rights activist and former chairperson National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), said investing in health would free the government and communities from unnecessary burden of diseases.

“There is no specific provision regarding right to health in the constitution of Pakistan. It is our dire need to include right to health provisions, especially for women and girls, in the constitution,” said Poda legal expert Khawaja Zahid.

Speakers were of the view that access to healthcare facilities for quality sexual and reproductive health needs was the basic right of women and adolescent girls, and guaranteeing this right was the foremost duty of the government.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2023