Embedding Post-Pregnancy Family Planning in Provincial Health Systems

Introduction for Host: Pathfinder led Qadam Ba Qadam Project has worked extensively in embedding post-pregnancy family planning (PPFP) within provincial health systems has emerged as a critical strategy to address maternal and newborn health challenges in Pakistan. This includes providing technical assistance (TA) to the federal and provincial governments of Pakistan including Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in scaling up of Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP) and Post Abortion Family Planning (PAFP) within the investment case (IC) execution and National Health Support Project (NHSP) design and implementation. Through this initiative, Pathfinder has supported the integration and institutionalization of PPFP and PAFP in the overall provincial health systems, strengthening health system through building technical capacity of federal and provincial governments to implement results-based management framework, gender response social and behavior change (SBC) strategies, enabling policy environment, and strengthen health information system to improve and better use of PPFP and PAFP data for decision making. The Federal government and provincial Health Department and Population Welfare Department are the key partners, while Pathfinder is also collaborating and coordinating with World Bank for technical support to NHSP in Sindh, KP and Punjab.