To combat the rapidly growing population, Punjab government has decided to utilise the services of 31,050 medical practitioners to control the population in the province.
Official sources said here on Monday that now services of 13,100 medical practitioners (MBBS doctor, lady doctors, professors, assistant professors) 10,900 Hakims registered with Pakistan Tibbi Council and 7,050 Homoeo-doctors would be utilised to achieve the objective of usage of contraceptives up to 47.99 percent by 2008. Presently usage of contraceptive stood at 37.12 percent.
Sources said that government has also asked the lady councillors, MPAs, MNAs, female lawyers to convince the women to join the population control programme. Sources said that the government is also setting up 1,500 population welfare centres and 3,000 male mobilisers at village level in order to ensure mother and child health.
The sources further said that in order to control the increasing population, the government is increasing the number of reproductive health centres from 54 to 66, mobile service units from 100 to 107 while health centres from 3,792 to 3,881.
Sources said that in order to create awareness among the masses regarding benefits of small family added that if the increasing population is not controlled acquisition of land for agriculture purposes would become impossible. Sources said that the women, especially the political workers of all parties, should play their due role in creating awareness among the masses.