Pakistan programme thrives despite unrest
First people 1996: 1
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0703-8437 PMID: 12291858 Document Number: 302254
In Pakistan, strikes and riots in the Korangi district of Karachi during 1995 prevented staff from finding a suitable location for the new Marie Stopes International family planning clinic. Once the clinic opened, field workers received violent threats and had to be escorted to and from work. A mobile clinic was hijacked at gun point. Nevertheless, the Pakistan program has expanded to five clinics with one more to open soon. It has established an extensive community-based distribution (CBD) network. Before the CBD project was implemented, less than 10% of couples within the target group used a modern contraceptive method. An effective information and education strategy along with high quality service provision has increased use of modern contraceptives three-fold in some areas. The program plans to expand into underserved areas of rural Sind Province and Balochistan. 4% of women in Balochistan and 9% in Sind have access to modern contraceptives. In fact, many women resort to illegal and unsafe abortion. The program aims to submit a proposal to UK's Overseas Development Administration for major funding.