In a significant step toward addressing Pakistan's mounting public health challenges, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has endorsed birth spacing as essential for the health and well-being of both mothers and children.
The endorsement came during a consultative meeting between the CII and the Population Council, where key issues relating to maternal and child health, as well as rapid population growth, were discussed. The Population Council sought the support of religious scholars to promote responsible family planning within Islamic guidelines.
During the session, the Council was presented with sobering statistics, including the alarming figure that approximately 11,000 women in Pakistan die each year due to complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth. The data underscored the urgent need for awareness and policy action to protect maternal and child health.
The situation for children is equally dire, according to the data. The infant mortality rate stands at a shocking 62 deaths before the age of one among 1,000 live births. Furthermore, malnutrition is rampant, with long-term consequences for the nation's youth.
The Population Council revealed that 18% of children are malnourished, and 29% are underweight. Additionally, 40% of children under the age of five suffer from stunting. These challenges are compounded by an education crisis, as every third child in Pakistan is currently out of school.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ