LAHORE: The Population Council in collaboration with the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) here on Wednesday launched the initiative ‘Upscaling the Sustainable Model for Engaging Family Physicians to Deliver Family Planning Services in Punjab’.
Addressing the occasion, Special Advisor to the Chief Minister on Population Saira Afzal Tarar said that family planning is not just a health issue; it is a development imperative.
“I would urge civil society, healthcare providers, and policymakers to join hands in scaling up the proven solution of Engaging Family Physicians to Deliver Family Planning Services for a prosperous Punjab,” said Ms Tarar.
She commended the Population Council’s decades-long contributions to advancing reproductive health and fostering collaboration between stakeholders.
“Being the most populated province, Punjab cannot afford to overlook its demographic challenges. I urge all stakeholders to prioritize family planning as a cornerstone of sustainable development,” she added.
She affirmed that under the chief minister’s leadership, the provincial government is fully committed to tackling these challenges head-on and ensuring equitable access to healthcare and family planning services for all.
The event showcased a transformative approach to addressing Punjab’s family planning needs.
With around 130 million population, Punjab’s population growth rate of 2.53% and a stagnant fertility rate of 3.4 births per woman over the last decade highlight an urgent need for action.
Population Council president Dr Rana Hajjeh celebrated the innovative model, which engaged private-sector family physicians and pharmacists and incorporates globally recognized high-impact practices such as male-to-male counseling.
“Together with the government, we are working to create a brighter future for Pakistan’s people by improving reproductive healthcare services and addressing demographic challenges,” she stated.
Dr Zeba Sathar, country director of the Population Council, highlighted the vital role of family physicians in delivering family planning services.
Citing findings from the 2023 census that reveal an alarming rise in population growth, she said the substantial unmet need for family planning services demands innovative models and approaches.
It is imperative for the government to take ownership of these solutions to effectively address the needs of the largest province in the country.
Dr Zeba also cited the latest data on abortion in Punjab, revealing that 68 out of every 1,000 women of reproductive age in the province undergo an abortion each year.
Nadia Saqib, secretary of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department of Punjab, reinforced the government’s commitment to a multi-pronged approach to population management.
“We are implementing initiatives to expand access to high-quality family planning services and investing substantial resources to ensure better healthcare for all,” she said.
Dr Nauman Safdar, director at the Population Council, presented the main objective of the initiative, which is to assess the impact of engaging private family physicians and pharmacies in increasing contraceptive use in selected districts of Punjab.
The event featured a panel discussion that highlighted the innovative integration of male physicians into family planning efforts.
Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2025