Daily Times

A National Dissemination Event of Key Findings on “A National Policy Landscape Analysis on DMPA SC as Self-Injection in Pakistan” took place on July 27, 2023, organized by RIZ Consulting and Jhpiego.

The event was attended by national and provincial family planning partners including government representatives (Departments and Health and Family Planning), development partners and Family planning private sector organizations The event shared crucial insights and recommendations on DMPA-SC as self-injection in Pakistan.

Chaired by Mr. Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, Secretary National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, GOP, his opening speech acknowledged the monumental efforts of RIZ Consulting, Jhpiego, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in advancing family planning initiatives in Pakistan. He reaffirmed Pakistan and specifically Federal Government’s commitment to addressing population growth and promoting family planning, aiming for a healthier and empowered future. While highlighting some of the potential challenges, he mentioned capacity building of health providers, commodity security and behaviour change communication will be some of the critical areas which need to be addressed while developing the strategy.

During the event, the introduction and scaling up of DMPA-SC, particularly in Sindh province, were recognized as a pivotal game-changer in family planning methods, contributing to controlling population growth and optimizing the use of available resources. The Secretary expressed heartfelt gratitude to donor agencies for their support and sought continued partnership from RIZ Consulting, Jhpiego, and other partners to further expand the implementation of DMPA-SC self-injection in Pakistan.

He reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Government of Pakistan and its partners to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, promoting gender equality, and prioritizing the reproductive health and well-being.