ISLAMABAD: The Civil Society Coalition for Population has called upon federal and provincial governments to actively engage community midwives in delivering family planning services.

The demand came in connection with the International Day of the Midwife observed every year on May 5. In a statement, it stated that such involvement represented a significant stride towards aiding impoverished rural women, who contend with high unmet needs for family planning and reproductive health accessibility hurdles.

Moreover, the coalition emphasised the imperative of harnessing the untapped potential of community midwivesto enhance the accessibility of family planning services nationwide. Highlighting the potential of community midwives, the CSOs coalition underscored their ability to address the unmet needs for family planning and enhance service accessibility.

“By leveraging the expertise of community midwives, significant strides can be made in improving the health of women and children, especially in remote and rural areas of Pakistan. The urgent need for action is compounded by the escalating climate crisis, as women disproportionately affected due to social, economic, and cultural factors and community midwivesare the first responders in catastrophes like floods and other extreme climate events,” it stated.

“Expanding the reach of midwifery services is imperative to prevent maternal mortality and ensure safer childbirth. The coalition urges governments to prioritise the recruitment, training and retention of midwives while expanding community midwives’ presence in underserved areas.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024