Maternal mortality: Ulema offer unanimous support

Eminent ulema of the country have unanimously offered their help and support in promoting the provision of birth spacing services thereby avoiding maternal deaths and creating a healthy and prosperous society.

They were speaking at a meeting organised by the Population Council in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Islamabad on Wednesday.

NHSRC Minister Saira Afzal Tarar said religious leaders can play a major role in helping the government improve public health. She said the voice of ulema carries value as people trust them.

Population Council Country Director Dr Zeba Sathar cited examples of various Islamic countries who achieved remarkable success in improving their health indicators by involving religious leaders in health promotion activities.

Badshahi Mosque Grand Imam Abdul Khabir Azad said the deaths of 14,000 mothers due to pregnancy-related causes was a tragedy as these lives could have been saved if they did not have to endure repeated pregnancies.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2015.