Mother's Night 2010

World Population Foundation, Pakistan along with local partner organizations observed 9-days-of-activism to raise widespread awareness about Safe Motherhood in Pakistan. The campaign was launched in 6 districts across the country and reached out to more than 1000 stakeholders belonging to all walks of life.

In Pakistan, Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is about 276 maternal deaths per 100, 000 births and post partum hemorrhage (excessive bleeding) is responsible for one third of all maternal deaths. The situation is all the more perturbing in Balochistan where the Maternal Mortality Rate stands at 856 maternal deaths per 100, 000 live births. In view of this bleak situation, it is needless to say that Pakistan is far from achieving its commitment with regard to MDG 5 whereby its target is to reduce the MMR to less than 140 by the year 2015.

In 2009, as part of its Safe Motherhood campaign, WPF, along with other civil society organizations was able to pursue the Government of Pakistan to endorse the United Nations Human Rights Council's Resolution on ‘Preventable Maternal Mortality and Morbidity and Human Rights’ in 2009 which declares maternal health as a human rights concern for the very first time.

This year, WPF undertook the task of taking the campaign to all parts of the country to spread widespread awareness about Safe Motherhood as well as to garner support for the Maternal Mortality and Human Rights Resolution for its implementation at the policy level. As part of this campaign, strategic locations in various districts were used for foot print messages containing information on the maternal mortality situation in the country as well as the human rights aspect of this issue. Moreover, media workshops were held in order to bring media organizations on board the cause of Safe Motherhood in Pakistan. Walks and community sensitization seminars were also held at the local level to raise widespread understanding among the community stakeholders. The incidence of Gender Based Violence as a cause of maternal deaths was also highlighted during the awareness raising drive. The major activity was held in Islamabad in a local park on International Mother’s Day in which scores of individuals participated and expressed solidarity with the cause.

As a next step WPF, Pakistan will engage in lobbying with parliamentarians and policy makers to ensure that the recommendations of the Maternal Mortality and Human Rights Resolution are tabled at the national and provincial assemblies for implementation in letter and in spirit.