JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
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Pakistan launched its Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) programme in 2006 in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners to bridge gaps and upscale interventions aimed at reducing mortality and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The country will have an uphill task in meeting by 2020, the 2015 targets set for attainment of MDGs 4 and 5. The current Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) level of 30% is considerably below the 60% target set for 2020 and the current Total Fertility Rate (TFR), estimated at 4, is significantly higher than the set target of 2.1. ⋯ To significantly reduce IMR and MMR and improve RH/FP outcomes, the two ministries must challenge the status quo and promote the coordination of health and population policies, improve MNCH/RF and FP management practices including monitoring and supervision, deploy, train and motivate the health workforce and strengthen the health system. Functional integration must also aim at ensuring use of appropriate technologies and uninterrupted provision of supplies and equipment. This viewpoint, which is related to the Heartfile Report, aims at diagnosing outstanding challenges at the field level, as well as factors contributing to successful implementation of MNCH/RH and FP and their progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5.