The rapidly growing population needs to be controlled to provide access to quality health, education, sanitation, clean drinking water and other civic amenities to every citizen of the country. Punjab Minister for Population Welfare Punjab Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry said on Monday that a comprehensive awareness campaign was being launched in the province to persuade people to keep their family size small.
She said every countrymen including community leaders, teachers, elected representatives and religious scholars should play their due role in this social service. She said the focus was on primary and protective healthcare so that to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs). She said at present under the five mortality rate present was 94/1000 and it would be reduced 65 by 2011 and 45 till 2015 under MDGs target while new born mortality rate was 54/1000 and it would be reduced up to 40 and 25 by years 2011 and 2015. She said the provincial Population Welfare Department was providing services regarding family welfare purposes through 1497 family welfare centers, 117 mobile service units, 2604 mail mobilisers, 54 birth centres and several LHWs.
"To achieve the required results of the departmental activities, a comprehensive and effective monitoring and evaluation system has been established in the department whereas, to activate the community participation at local level the services of Ulema would be acquired.