(Engaging Men in Family Planning Conversations)

As part of the USAID-funded MOMENTUM Private Healthcare Delivery (MPHD) project, PSI Pakistan, in collaboration with ZAFA Pharmaceuticals and Association for Mothers and Newborns (AMAN), organized a sensitization session for male General Physicians (GPs) to highlight the implications of the population crises in Pakistan and emphasize the need to increase male engagement in family planning conversations.

The event turned out to be a productive networking experience, with an outstanding attendance and participation of over 200 doctors.

The session initiated with welcome and introductory remarks by Adnan Siraj and Dr. Asif. This was followed by a fun and insightful ice-breaking session led by Dr. Marium Waqas to debunk myths and identify the participants’ opinions regarding common misconceptions about family planning and contraceptives.

Dr. Azra Ahsan, the Lead Consultant and Trainer for this component of the project, then presented a landscaping of Pakistan’s current family planning positioning under the FP2030 goals, the maternal and neonatal health scenario in the country, and an orientation on healthy timing spacing of pregnancy.

PSI Pakistan’s team engaged the participants in a group discussion while introducing VIYA, Pakistan’s first digital sexual wellness and male engagement chatbot and e-learning platform.

The male GPs greatly appreciated PSI Pakistan’s efforts to engage men and provide avenues to empower male clients in local communities in order normalize conversations around family planning and improve reproductive health outcomes.