ISLAMABAD: While expressing concern over 200,000 newborn deaths annually in Pakistan due to lack of awareness and prevalent social taboos, Ulema and scholars have unanimously called for concerted efforts for removing misperceptions about handling of newborns and improving mother and childcare practices. They came up with this unanimous stance during a day-long National Ulema Conference held at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, on Wednesday. The event was jointly organised by the IIUI and the Center for Communications and Programmess. IIU President and Vice Chancellor Dr Ahmed Yousif Al-Dariweesh was the chief guest while a number of renowned religious scholars and Ulemas from all schools of thoughts as well as representatives from seminaries from across the country and academicians attended the event. The purpose of the conference was to highlight the factors, particularly bathing of newborns and seek their decree about bathing the newborns soon after their delivery. According to fresh available data, over 400,000 children do not reach the age of five every year mainly due to various diseases that can be treated if effective and timely treatment is provided to them. Similarly, over 200,000 children die per year due to lack of awareness about handling newborns, particularly bathing them soon after their birth. In his inaugural address, Dr Ahmed Yousif Al-Dariweesh appreciated the holding of this conference on this particular issue. He said that Islam accords first priority to saving human life before performing other religious rituals. He said that all religious scholars should take concerted efforts and discourage the misperception about the bathing of newborns as it would help in controlling the high death rate of newborns in the country. He said that the only purpose of their university is to ensure that Islamic principles are interpreted in their actual spirit. In his remarks, Dr Gulzar Naeemi, a religious scholar, said that since the inception of Islam there is no controversy both religiously and medically about saving human life. He linked rising death rate of newborns in the country to lack of knowledge of prayer leaders particularly in remote and rural areas as people seek guidance from them whenever there is any religion-related issue. He stressed the need for to completely replace these prayer leaders with scholars who could effectively guide the people about issues related to religion. The decrees of renowned scholars from all schools of thoughts were read during the conference. Other scholars including Dr. Ghulzar Naeemi, Dr. Raghib Naeemi and Ehtesham Akram from EVA spoke in detail over the issue. On the occasion, scholars from all schools of thoughts unanimously passed a resolution with the decree that in Islam there is no harm if a newborn is not bathed on medical grounds and ‘Azaan’ (call for prayer) is called in their ears. They were united on the point that various social taboos particularly in remote and rural areas are the major contributor to increased death rate of newborns. The resolution suggested for focused approach in disseminating this decree throughout the country so that any misconceptions about the bathing of newborn are discouraged. Published in Daily Times, January 11th 2018.