Islamabad: As cases of domestic violence, particularly women’s health in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, have increased following pandemic-triggered shutdowns, the reproductive health initiative launched in the province by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has largely covered the vulnerable segment of society in mitigating the grim situation, a press release said.
These views were expressed by Tayyaba Aurangzeb, Deputy Director of Operations/Country Director (Acting), ICR, in a statement released here on Sunday at the end of her reproductive health initiative supported by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the Pakistan Village Development Program (PVDP) .
The ICR Reproductive Health Initiative was launched in KP Province amid rising incidents of domestic violence that have serious consequences for women’s well-being, sexual and reproductive health, health mental health and their ability to participate in and lead the recovery of our societies and our economy. . The situation was worse in communities where illiteracy and multidimensional poverty rates were high. It should be mentioned here that alongside COVID-19, the increased incidence of violence against women and girls around the world has led the United Nations to declare it a “shadow pandemic”.
Speaking about the IRC’s contribution to alleviating this grim situation, Tayyaba Aurangzeb said, “We have launched an intervention to improve the health and safety of women and girls, with a focus on those who have reduced access to reproductive health (RH) and gender-based violence. response services (GBV) during the pandemic. During the response, IRC provided an essential and lifesaving integrated package of GBV and RH interventions to women, adolescent girls, transgender people and men, in Swat and Peshawar districts, selected due to high need and minimal availability of SSR. and GBV services.
The IRC, in partnership with the KP government, ensured the delivery of health services including antenatal, natal, child care, family planning, contraceptives and nutritional counselling. In addition, the IRC has created 10 safe spaces to provide psychological counselling, awareness raising and vocational training to the most needy people in Swat and Peshawar.
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