Call to promote concept of safe motherhood

ISLAMABAD-”Healthy Pregnancy is a pre-requisite for sustainable human development and in order to have a safe and healthy pregnancy, it is important to promote the concept of Safe Motherhood.”
These views were expressed by Country Representative, World Population Foundation (WPF), Qadeer Baig on the occasion of Mothers’ Night 2009. The event aimed at raising widespread awareness about the cause of Safe Motherhood in Pakistan.
A panel discussion moderated by Seemi Raheel highlighted the fact that to make a difference at a mass level it was imperative that health and nutritional education be incorporated in formal curricula of the schools.
This would go a long way in improving women’s health and nutrition at an early age and its ignorance is a major cause of maternal mortality. It was also emphasised that male involvement through mass community sensitisation efforts should be ensured to influence the heads of families - who are usually men.
Sensitizing communities about the three major reasons for maternal deaths i.e. pregnancies that are too early, too soon and/or too many - is most urgent.
At the governmental level, the provision of adequate health infrastructure was accentuated so that the number of women who lose their lives due to life threatening complications during pregnancy have ready access to emergency services. Moreover, strengthening healthcare systems would also help in reducing the incidence of teenage marriages that culminate into early pregnancies.
This is especially important in view of the fact that a number of young women lose their lives during pregnancy because their bodies are not fully developed to bear the trauma of childbirth.
Finally, the need to invest in youth organizations working on the issue of sexual and reproductive health and rights was stressed as such youth networks can play a pivotal role in reducing maternal mortality among teenaged girls.
While paying tributes to his mother, renowned singer, Abrar-ul-Haq shared with the audience his fond memories and how his mother looked after him and took care and devoted all her efforts to his upbringing.
He appreciated the efforts of World Population Foundation, Pakistan and hoped that Pakistan would soon achieve Safe Motherhood. Further, this year there were two recipients for Mother’s Award.
Farzana Raja accepted the award on behalf of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for being the first Pakistani Prime Minister who raised the issue of maternal mortality in our country at the global level.