Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR (AJK): (Parliament Times) AJK Population Welfare Department, in collaboration with M/o NHSR&C and UNFPA Pakistan, is all set to convene a ‘dissemination event titled ‘Mapping of Public & Private Sectors’ for Delivery of FP Services in AJK & GB” in Islamabad on Thursday – Sept. 10, it was officially said.
Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan will be the Chief Guest on this occasion, AJK Population Welfare Department Secretary Raja Muhammad Razaq told this Correspondent here on Wednesday.
“Apart from senior functionaries of the federal, provincial and regional Governments of Pakistan, senior public & private functionaries related to Population and Health Sectors, Civil Society Organizations, Academia and Media representatives will participate”, he said.
“In view of the extra-ordinary significance of the event, Heads of all development partners will also join this important event virtually, he said and added that the virtual participation will not only be a source of inspiration for the policy executing organizations but will also lead to further the coordinated efforts for addressing the challenge of rapid population growth in Pakistan, in viable manners”, the Secretary Population Welfare Department of AJK said
It may be added that under the ambit of CCI (Council of Common Interest) approved the recommendations on November 9, 2018 for addressing the alarming population growth in Pakistan, the Action Plan, inter alia, envisages to conduct mapping of all general registered private sector practitioners and hospitals to provide counseling, information and services in the area of Family Planning (FP), the ministry of NHSR&C, Govt. of Pakistan, in collaboration with UNFPA (Pakistan), has conducted a pilot mapping study of selected district i.e. Muzaffarabad (AJK) and Distt. Gilgit, of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), official sources disclosed.
“The objective is to enumerate the types of services and geographic location of all public-private health facilities and major pharmacies in both districts for provision of FP counseling, information, services, referrals, and ensure availability of contraceptive commodity”, Secretary Population Welfare Department said while responding to a question.
He added that this mapping was an initial step for developing a model healthcare system through Universal Health Coverage in AJK and GB.
It may be added that this study is financially supported by the UNFPA, the AJK Population Welfare Department appreciate the Ministry of NHSR&C and UNFPA Pakistan for extending support in facilitation and providing technical support for undertaking this important milestone of the family planning programs.
