Clerics to be inducted for family planning campaign

People would also be sensitised on use of contraceptives

PESHAWAR: Population Welfare Department of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has decided to induct 250 clerics across the province for a mass awareness campaign on newborn and mother health care and to sensitise the public about family planning.

The summary of the induction of clerics has been sent to the chief minister for final approval, while the provincial finance department has released Rs10.76 million for the purpose.

According to the summary sent to the Planning and Development Department, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, 250 ulemas will be inducted for all union councils across the province. The ulemas will run awareness campaign among the public about maternal, newborn and child health.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Population Welfare Department Secretary Fazal Nabi Khan said the scheme has been initiated to remove the myths about use of contraceptives and birth control among the rural population.

Unhealthy reluctance

As per the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, the contraceptive prevalence rate in K-P is 38%, which is significantly higher than the 31% measured by the same survey seven years ago. But the rate is far behind the target of United Nations Millennium Development Goal –of 55%. Additionally, only one in five women is using modern methods such as sterilisation, birth control pills and injections, the survey suggests.

The contraceptive prevalence rate is higher in urban areas, and varies significantly between districts. The unmet need for family planning has been estimated at 26% down from 35% in 2000.

Al Razi Teaching Hospital Peshawar Medical Officer Dr Faryal Maqsood told The Express Tribune there were myths associated with birth spacing by using various methods of contraceptives. She said some people believe birth spacing may lead to infertility in women. The provision of antenatal care, safe delivery practices and postnatal check-ups would significantly reduce the mortality rate.

Furthermore, she said they also fear men may not feel comfortable in using contraceptives. “The myth surrounding side effects of using contraceptives and the thought that their repercussions are more than benefits, stop women from birth spacing.”

About the hiring of clerics for the campaign, she said it can work well if clerics dispel the myths against contraception and convey a positive message towards family planning.

Causes of child deaths

According to a report of World Health Organisation from 2014, neonatal and postnatal mortality rates stand at 70 deaths per 1,000 lives in K-P. The report stated various reasons for the deaths included pre-mature births.

It read that 29% of deaths of children below the age of five years are caused by pneumonia, 20% deaths occurred due to diarrhoea, 5% of meningitis, 2% each from pertussis and measles, 11% due to injuries, 16% die of other causes while 15% deaths occurred due to non-communicable diseases.

Similarly, a large chunk of 36% of prenatal deaths below the age of one month occurred due to prematurity while 23% die of birth asphyxia and birth trauma, 20% deaths occurred due to sepsis and other infectious diseases.

The recent Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey has established a Maternal Mortality Ratio for the province where 275 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births occur.  Most of the deaths are caused by postpartum haemorrhage, puerperal sepsis or due to eclampsia, a condition in which a pregnant woman has high blood pressure.

Awareness plan

After the 18th Amendment, family planning and population became a provincial subject. The K-P government has established 632 welfare centres, 29 reproductive health centres and 34 mobile service units for family planning and reproductive health care facilities across the province.

“People will be made aware of the use of contraceptives for birth spacing to control the newborn mortality rate and will break the stereotype about its use through ulemas,” Fazal Nabi said. Furthermore, he said the scheme will help the government achieve United Nation’s Family Planning 2020 and Sustainable Development Goals, of which Pakistan is a signatory. “Increase of population is not an issue if it is properly managed and the said project aimed at management of population rise in the province,” he said.

“If the current population growth rate of 2% per annum in K-P goes unchecked, it is bound to outclass all resources available for socio-economic and community development in the province,” he maintained. “This would pose a serious threat to government’s endeavours aimed at properly educating and harnessing young people.”

Fazal Nabi said the campaign will be monitored through a proper system and the department concerned will prepare regular progress reports about the campaign.

Initially, added the official, the ulemas will be inducted for those union councils where the ratio of births is increasing alarmingly. While sharing details about the scheme, Fazal Nabi ulemas, to be hired, should be graduated from Wifaqul Madaris, and would be imams at the mosques of their respective villages.

Moreover, he said, a stipend of Rs10,000 will also be provided to these them for their services. Previously, the department used to run such campaigns in Torghar, Battagram, Malakand and Nowshehra and received a positive response from the public.