The services related to family planning and reproductive health are being declared ‘essential services’ so that they are not discontinued in any situation arising out of pandemic or natural disaster. This was stated by Health and Population Welfare Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho while chairing the 16th meeting of the Sindh Family Planning 2020 Working Group in Karachi. A number of health experts from the public and private sectors were in attendance. Dr Pechuho told the meeting that contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) doubled in the province due to comprehensive reforms.

The Sindh government, she pointed out, would continue its efforts with the aim of increasing the CPR rate up to 43 per cent by 2025 and 50pc by 2030 under international commitments.

“A total of 392 government dispensaries will be refurbished in remote areas where community midwives will provide health services round-the-clock. Family welfare centres of the population welfare department are being shifted to health facilities to enhance service delivery,” she said.