Reproductive, maternal health services helpline launched.

ISLAMABAD -- With the movement of women curtailed due to the coronavirus outbreak, concerns have arisen that the reproductive health and rights of the people of Pakistan are likely to be sidelined during the pandemic.

In a media briefing on Tuesday, Population Council Project Director Samia Ali Shah said that a decline by up to 20pc in maternal health services would result in more than 200,000 additional births, more than 2,000 maternal deaths and about 58,000 stillbirths in the next three months.

She said that service disruptions in family planning services are likely to leave an additional two million women with unmet contraceptive needs, causing more than 900,000 unintended pregnancies and more than 350,000 unsafe abortions.

'Similarly, a decline in women's protection services puts 1.6m additional women at increased risk of domestic violence during the lockdown in Pakistan. The government needs to act quickly to [ensure] essential reproductive [services], including family planning, maternal and newborn health services remain available as Covid-19 progresses,' she said.

Ms Shah announced the launch of a helpline for the support and counselling of women regarding reproductive health concerns.

The helpline has been launched in collaboration with the Association for Mothers and Newborns (Aman) and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SOGP), with financial support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Aman President Dr Azra Ahsan said that the helpline will host a pool of health experts available over the phone to provide medical assistance to women on family planning, maternal health, essential newborn care and reproductive health issues.

'Doctors will also provide medical advice on how pregnant women can keep themselves safe from Covid-19, gender-based violence, proper nutrition, contraception...