President assures pragmatic approach to ensure right to quality health

National human rights commission launches report titled ‘Health as Human Right’

KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi, reaffirming government's commitment to protecting public rights to health and education, said on Saturday that a pragmatic approach was being adopted for legislation and efficient implementation in these areas.

During the launch of a report, 'Health as Human Right,' by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Sindh chapter, he said that the Constitution of Pakistan is a comprehensive document, however, the implementation of it was an issue that demanded the strengthening of related agencies and departments.

With regard to recommendations made by other speakers to incorporate health as the fundamental right of people, President Alvi emphasised on the provision of an enabling environment across the country. "With due realisation towards this basic requirement, the government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to ensure right of people to quality health, with equal provision for easy public access to related services".

Appreciative of the Sindh health minister, who in her presentation on the occasion said a bill on "Women Right to Reproductive Health" would soon to be tabled before the provincial assembly, Dr Alvi said that equal attention was needed to raise awareness among the women about interventions available near their homes.



He said that not only modern technology can be utilised, through 75 million smartphones that are being used by the people, but media, along with other influential segments must also be taken on board.

He mentioned that in Bangladesh, imams of mosques were actively engaged in sensitising people about health issues, while another country in the region with similar conditions as Pakistan, was making optimum and adequate use of modern technology in meeting basic health needs.

About manifestation of government priorities and efforts to take people on board, he said that there prevailed unanimity among all people of Pakistan, across the board, about the importance of peace. This attitude, he said, is directly linked to the efforts being made for stabilising the economy and acquiring financial security.

He said that 3% population growth in the country demands a minimum of 10% growth in GDP to meet the requirements of the growing population. He reiterated that efforts towards prevention as well as proper management of available resources were critically needed. He said that provision for clean water, proper sanitation coupled with the handling of pollution in all forms and categories were basic requirements for prevention of diseases, which needed to be further complemented with the education of people.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2019.