Young mothers, newborn child health: government urged to formulate concrete policy to solve issues

Speakers at consultative seminar urged the provincial government to formulate a concrete policy to solve health issues of young mothers and their newborn child. The seminar titled "Understanding the Adolescent Girls and Young Mothers (AGYMs) and Maternal Newborn Child Health (MNCH) and Sexual Reproductive Health Issues," was organised by Rahnuma - Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP) in collaboration with Care International of Pakistan, under Research Advocacy Fund (RAF) project, at local hotel here on Wednesday.
Gohar Zaman, Regional Director Rahnuma-FPAP, Haji Sattar Gul, Vice President of the FPAP, Shehnaz Fateh, Manager Adolescent were the keynote speakers at the consultative session. The seminar was attended by male and female MPAs, health providers, lady health workers, officials of government health departments, representatives of Care International Pakistan, NGOs and members of civil society.
The participants stressed the need for proper implementation of policies, provide quality health services to MNCH, besides to meet with the global commitments in the health sector. They emphasised that special programme should be launched to create awareness among young women, which could only be helpful to reduce the infant and maternal mortality ratio.
Gohar Zaman while briefing the goals and objective of Rahnuma-FPAP said that situation is completely dismal regarding provision of better healthcare services to young mothers and newborn child. He attributed that inadequate resources, poor management and policies are the major hurdle in redressing sexual reproductive health and MNCH issues. He stressed the need for proper implementation of policies, provide quality health services to MNCH, besides to meet with the global commitments in the health sector.
Shehnaz Fateh in her detailed presentation explained the actual situation on ground about health services delivery to young mothers and infants, and identified the policy gap and issues in tackling of MNCH and SRH issues. Mehr Sulatana, former MPA, said that cultural norms and barriers ae a major hurdle to the delivery of better healthcare to mothers and newborns. She called for effective legislation against early marriages and policy to overcome with SRH and MNCH issues.
Ziaulllah Bangash, PTI MPA said that government is taking serious steps for provision of better health facilities to women and their newborn child. He assured he will raise issues of SRH and MNCH issues at the Assembly floor, and would make effective legislation against early marriages. He informed the Child Marriage Restrain Act would be passed by KP Assembly with support of all religious parties and relevant stakeholders, under which the age limit for marriage will be at least 18 years. Earlier speaking at the seminar, Vice President of Rahnuma-FPAP Haji Sattar Gul said the organisation is working on provision of better healthcare services to mother and child keeping in view Islamic norms and cultural values.