Dr. Raheela Subhani and Farzana Parveen provide services during a Satellite Camp in the Qasim Bela slum in Multan.
Situated prominently along the banks of the Chenab River, Multan District holds historical and geographical significance in Pakistan’s Punjab Province. Often referred to as “The City of Saints and Sufis,” it was home to many renowned saints during the 11th and 12th centuries. Today, with a population exceeding six million, the district faces rapid population growth and a considerable unmet need for family planning services, particularly in underserved communities.
Since October 2023, The Challenge Initiative (TCI) has collaborated with district leadership – including the Population Welfare Department (PWD) and the Health Department – to implement high-impact practices and other interventions under TCI’s Rapid Scale Initiative (RSI). TCI’s work provides essential support to expand family planning services across the district through focused interventions, including Satellite Camps.
While conducting a recent Satellite Camp, the TCI team encountered Shahina Bibi, a 26-year-old resident of Qasim Bela, an urban slum in Multan. She has two children under three years of age whose births were not properly spaced. Lacking information about available family planning services and their health benefits, Shahina was also discouraged from seeking information and services by her in-laws and husband. One of the major barriers Shahina faced was the misconception that family planning services involved hidden costs.
Misled by members of her community, she believed the services were financially out of reach. Additionally, transportation challenges made it difficult for her to access healthcare facilities, especially while caring for her young children. Farzana Parveen, a TCI-trained master coach and Lady Health Visitor at the Basic Health Unit in Qasim Bela, played a pivotal role in transforming Shahina’s outlook. Having received extensive training on family planning, male engagement, and effective counseling, Farzana began conducting door-to-door visits in Shahina’s neighborhood as part of the Satellite Camp intervention managed by the Department of Health.
Farzana provides Implant insertion services at Health Facility Qasim Bela Multan.
During one of her visits, Farzana noticed Shahina’s lack of birth spacing and initiated counseling sessions. She explained the benefits of family planning and invited Shahina to visit the nearby Satellite Camp for further guidance. After three days of consistent counseling, Shahina agreed to visit the camp, where she received an intrauterine contraceptive device. Farzana also addressed concerns that Shahina’s husband had and obtained his consent for the procedure.
Farzana later shared Shahina’s story at a seminar, shedding light on the barriers many women in similar situations face. She emphasized how TCI’s training on value clarification and male engagement had shifted her approach, enabling her to create demand for family planning services among entire families rather than focusing solely on women. Dr. Raheela Subhani, Facility In-Charge at Qasim Bela, further highlighted the impact of this intervention:
For Shahina, family planning ensures not only her health and safety but also enables her to better care for her children and family. She now feels content and secure, free from the fear of unwanted pregnancies and financial burdens related to family planning services, as these services are available free of cost. As health workers, we must ensure that every woman and her partner are well-informed about the free services and choices available, including short, long, and permanent family planning methods.”
Recognizing the need for long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and their adoption in Multan, the Population Welfare Department and Department of Health have initiated special measures. These include capacity-building sessions to promote LARCs through comprehensive client counseling. Their collaboration with TCI is not only improving women’s quality of life but also building a healthier, more prosperous society.
