The Fourth International Family Planning Summit, titled ‘Maan Rahay Salamat (Safe Motherhood)’, officially commenced at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) today.
The summit is being held under the theme ‘Youth, Family Planning and Digital Innovation,’ with the objective of promoting maternal health, raising awareness about family planning, and addressing the challenges of rapid population growth through innovative and evidence-based approaches.
Sindh Minister for Health, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. Addressing the participants, Dr Pechuho stated that the Sindh government continued to lead the country in introducing legislative and practical reforms in the health sector. She said the government’s foremost priority is to ensure the provision of quality, safe, and timely healthcare services for all citizens.
She expressed concern over the rising maternal mortality associated with repeated Caesarean sections (C-sections), noting that the government is taking urgent measures to address the issue. She suggested that tubal ligation should be strongly considered after a third Caesarean section to help reduce maternal health risks.
Highlighting transportation challenges faced by women, particularly in remote areas, Dr Pechuho said that the Sindh government was establishing Birth Station Centers to ensure that women living in underserved communities have timely access to safe and quality maternal healthcare services.
The minister further stated that the Sindh government was implementing comprehensive measures to strengthen HIV prevention and early diagnosis across the province. She said that HIV screening had been accelerated, while additional CDC (Comprehensive Disease Control) Centres are being activated to expand testing, ensure early detection, and improve access to treatment.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by public hospitals, she said the government had recently recruited additional healthcare professionals, while further recruitment was underway to strengthen the healthcare system and improve the quality of medical services across public health facilities.
Speaking about the role of the media, the health minister appreciated constructive reporting, stating that responsible media coverage helped identify shortcomings within hospitals and contributes to improving healthcare services. She clarified that, under existing regulations, media access inside hospital premises was restricted; however, the Executive Director and focal persons would respond to queries and questions of the Media in a dedicated space, preferably outside hospital premises, without hampering or distributing patient care.
Pechuho expressed confidence that the Fourth International Family Planning Summit would serve as an important platform for promoting family planning, improving maternal health, engaging young people, and advancing digital innovation in healthcare, ultimately contributing to a stronger and more resilient public health system. Ms Ayesha Leghari, Country Director PSI Pakistan, Muhammad Arshad Chohan, Dr Al Fareed Zafar, PPHI Sindh CEO Javed Jagirani, Dr Talib Lashari, and other distinguished speakers also addressed the summit.