Meeting goals: Experts give suggestions for reducing maternal mortality

Government pledged to reduce rate the of mortality by three quarters till 2015.

KARACHI: Experts, during a dialogue on Monitoring Implementation of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5, came up with various recommendations for the government to improve the situation of maternal health in the country.

They called for better access to reproductive-health service, inclusion of reproductive information in education curriculum, fixing 18 years as the minimum age for girls to marry and representing women in local governments.

The event was organised by Shirkat Gah’s Women’s Resource Centre on Wednesday, to review the implementation of MDG 5 and the government’s pledge to reduce maternal mortality by three quarters till 2015. This dialogue was the first of a series to be held across the country to share findings and make all the sections of society aware about maternal health.

The CEO of Shirkat Gah, Khawar Mumtaz, said that women faced many problems in accessing information and services related to sexual and reproductive health. “The inclusion of reproductive education in middle schools can help improve the health situation and spread awareness amongst future mothers.”

Sindh Minister for Women’s Development Tauqir Fatima Bhutto was also present at the dialogue. She stressed that a coordinated effort was required by population welfare, education, health and women development departments to combat the alarming mortality rates.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2012.