Every 50 Minutes a Woman Dies During Childbirth in Pakistan: Report
News Desk
Islamabad: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has voiced concern over reproductive health issues in Pakistan, highlighting that a woman succumbs to pregnancy complications every 50 minutes in the country.
According to UNFPA, if the current trend continues, it will take Pakistan 122 years to eliminate maternal mortality completely.
UNFPA recently unveiled its annual report on the State of World Population 2024, focusing on the theme “Lives linked by threads of hope: ending inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights”.
The report underscores how discrimination poses a significant barrier to advancing the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls worldwide. Structural inequalities put many at risk, with over 500 deaths daily occurring in crisis-prone and conflict-affected countries.
Dr Lowe Shabane, the head of UNFPA in Pakistan, emphasized during the report’s release ceremony that Pakistan, with a predominantly youthful population, must ensure that every young person can harness their potential.
With over half of Pakistan’s population under the age of 19, Dr Shabane stressed the importance of granting youth access to quality healthcare, education, and welfare to capitalize on the country’s immense potential for growth and prosperity.
The report presents distressing evidence that crucial sexual and reproductive health services such as contraceptives, safe motherhood facilities, and dignified prenatal care remain inaccessible to many women and girls.
It highlights that in Pakistan, a woman loses her life to pregnancy complications every 50 minutes, with rural areas facing even greater barriers to timely healthcare access.
Despite these grim statistics, progress in addressing these issues in Pakistan is sluggish.
At the current rate of development, it’s projected to take Pakistan 122 years to achieve zero maternal mortality and another 93 years to fulfill family planning needs.
Moreover, the report emphasizes that by investing an additional $79 billion in low- and middle-income countries by 2030, the world could prevent 400 million unwanted pregnancies, save 1 million lives, and yield $660 billion in economic benefits.
