Media coalition meeting highlights urgent reproductive health needs

ISLAMABAD: The Population Council convened a media coalition meeting to present new evidence on the reproductive health needs of Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations and to underscore the central role of the media in amplifying district level disparities and promoting equitable development.

Welcoming the participants, Dr Ali Mir, Senior Director, Population Council, emphasized that Pakistan’s development agenda cannot advance without confronting the profound inequities identified through an Index for Pakistan that identifies district vulnerabilities. Reflecting on the data, he remarked, “The evidence clearly shows that basic health, education, livelihood services are not reaching millions who need them the most. These structural gaps are not abstract; they are lived realities. Unless we acknowledge these disparities and create public visibility around them, our policies will continue to fall short.”

The presentation on district level evidence was jointly delivered by Dr. G M Arif, Technical Advisor, Population Council, and Ikram ul Ahad, Manager Communication, Population Council. Dr Arif highlighted how deprivation, distance from services, and demographic pressures intersect to produce entrenched vulnerability across multiple districts. Describing the district level patterns, he noted, “In many parts of Pakistan, where a person lives determines their opportunities, their health, and even their resilience to crisis. The data shows how health facilities, schools, and essential services are simply too far for too many. Addressing these inequities is not optional, it is fundamental to reducing vulnerability.”

During the session, the presenters explained that the most vulnerable districts face far higher fertility rates, limited access to basic health services, and minimal Lady Health Worker outreach. In districts such as Chagai, Jhal Magsi, Kohat, Umerkot, and Lodhran, many rural households have not been visited by an LHW in the last month, leaving communities without essential family planning counselling. Educational deprivation, especially the extreme distance to girls secondary schooling in Kohistan and Kohlu, often exceeding 70 kilometres, further restricts women’s empowerment and reproductive health decision making. Demographic pressures, including the disproportionately high share of children under five in districts like Zhob and Kohistan, continue to strain already fragile development systems. These vulnerabilities, compounded by high exposure to climate risks in regions such as Balochistan and Sindh, reinforce a cycle of deprivation and limited resilience.

Speaking on the importance of media engagement, Ikram ul Ahad reiterated that evidence must be translated into public awareness, stating, “The District Vulnerability Index is a story of people, not numbers. Without the media, this story stays buried in technical documents instead of reaching the communities and policymakers who need to act. Journalists remain our strongest partners in ensuring that deprivation, vulnerability, and reproductive health needs become national priorities and not technical footnotes.”

Participants acknowledged the urgency of the findings and expressed strong commitment to working collaboratively to amplify district level disparities and promote informed public dialogue. Senior journalists, editors, and communication professionals agreed to use the evidence presented today to guide reporting, strengthen scrutiny of policies, and elevate the voices of marginalized communities. They emphasized that sustained media engagement is essential for shifting national attention toward underserved districts and supporting efforts to ensure that no one is left behind.

In his concluding remarks, Dr Jamil Ahmad Chaudhry, Program Specialist, UNFPA highlighted the importance of integrating reproductive health into broader strategies for vulnerability reduction and climate resilience. He reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to evidence-based advocacy and stressed the need for stronger platforms where media, researchers, and policymakers can collaborate to promote equitable development. He also emphasized the role of the National Action Plan in prioritizing deprived districts, addressing organizational gaps, and ensuring effective resource allocation to enhance the well-being of the population.

The Media Coalition Meeting ended with a shared resolve to transform evidence into action, strengthen public accountability, and contribute to a more informed, equitable, and resilient future for all Pakistanis.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025