Over two million abortions taking place annually in Pakistan

KARACHI: More than 2.1 million abortions occur annually in Pakistan, said renowned Gynaecologist Dr Sadia Ahsan Pal while talking to this scribe.

“Unfortunately these are not back street abortions, these are numbers shared by Pakistan Demographic Health Survey and majority of them are married couples,” Dr Pal said.

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When asked about family planning and social taboos, Dr Sadia Ahsan Pal said she has more than 35 years of experience in family planning and gynaecology,  but unfortunately contraceptive prevalence rate in Pakistan is only 35% which is why couples are getting abortions instead of family planning.  

Advancements in technology have changed family planning methods. Now you can use pills, hormonal and IUD which are far better and less harmful options of family planning, Dr Pal added

Social, ethical and economic issues are the fundamental causes which threaten the life of pregnant women. “Women are not allowed to visit the doctor alone, sometimes they don’t find transport and at other times they lack the financial means to travel,” said Dr Sadiqa Jaffry who is the President of National Committee of Mother and Child Health.  

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In 1994 former Prime Minister of Pakistan Late Benzair Bhutto had initiated the National Committee for Mother and Child Health to address issue and advocate family planning. Dr Sadiqa Jaffry the president of the committee urged the government to introduce more programs and to spread the message of family planning at the mass level, otherwise the situation will be worse in the not so distant future

Senior gynaecologist and retired Medical Superintendent of one the oldest maternity homes Sobraj Hospital, Professor Shabeen Naz said that every 300 out of 100,000 pregnant women have died due to post haemorrhoid blooding, fits and high blood pressure and majority of them are unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.

While asking about family planning slogan "Do Bachay hi Achay" (Two Children are Good), Dr Shabeen Naz said that unfortunately our policy makers change this to their own preferences. “When our Prime Minister had two children the slogan was “Do Bachay Hi Achay" and when she had three kids, the slogan was changed to "Kam Bachay Khushaal Gharana" (less children means a happy family). So these are the things which show your commitment and seriousness. Now this is the time to take all authorities on board and make one policy to save live of our mothers and children.

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“And last but not least we should also advocate doctors and paramedics as well about latest techniques of family planning because 80 per cent deliveries have been done by midwives or local maternity centres in the country,” Dr Naz added.