World Population Day 2020: Message from Dr. KazimHussain Jatoi (Secretary, Population Welfare Department, Sindh)

TEXT: In the wake of the World Population Day, service providers of Population Welfare Department, Sindh are encouraged to raise awareness on the sexual and reproductive health needs and challenges of women and girls during the current pandemic situation. It is pivotal to ensure Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and to sustain the momentum towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 that was reaffirmed at the International Conference on Population Development in Nairobi, Kenya, 2019.

The COVID-19 crisis has the entire globe into its grip besides, cultures and economies. Women are disproportionately exposed to coronavirus that also includes a number of women front line workers.

Supply chains across the globe are being disrupted, impacting lifesaving supplies including modern contraceptive supply and increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy, maternal health drugs and Personal Protective equipment. Sexual and reproductive health programs are being affected due to the pandemic and resultant fear of being caught by virus. Thus, health systems are unable to cope, and gender-based violence is on the rise.

New UNFPA research has demonstrated that COVID-19 related negative implications, if continue for next six months with significant disruptions to health services, then 47 million women in low - and middle-income countries will not be able to access modern contraception contributing to 7 million unintended pregnancies. There are now 31 million more incidents of gender-based abuse and 13 million child marriages between 2020 and 2030 are to be reported.

In addition, women work disproportionately in unsafe labor markets and are hit harder by economic impacts of COVID-19. About 60 percent of women work in the informal economy worldwide, with a greater chance of falling into poverty. As a result of school closures and the increasing needs of the elderly population, unpaid care work for women has increased. The pandemic is hitting especially hard on vulnerable populations, widening inequality and threatening to set us back in our attempts to leave none behind.

We have to follow social distancing so as to save each other from contracting virus. We need innovative ways to communicate to people at large, and different sections of society. In this regard media has to play its role. It will help in communicating with more diverse audiences, including the business community health-care providers, members of marginalized groups etc.

As COVID-19 continues to challenge communities around the world, the Department of Population Welfare Department, Sindh in collaboration with other partners are finding innovative ways to deliver essential SRH interventions, where feasible, remote and tele-health service delivery has become critical in reaching women, girls and young people. The Government of Sindh was the first in Pakistan to issue Family Planning and Reproductive Health Guidelines during COVID-19. These guidelines were issued in March this year.

I assure of my best wishes for success of putting the brakes on COVID-19 to safeguard health and rights of women and girls in Sindh. I believe that all the set targets will be achieved and I also assure my full support in development of society through up keeping the rights of the marginalized communities.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020