Contraceptive Access Key to Eradicating Hunger

Washington DC - December 5, 2005

 For many people in the world’s wealthy countries, the holiday season is often a time for overindulgence in food. But for the estimated 850 million people worldwide who suffer from hunger, this time of year only serves as a stark reminder of their often-constant struggle for adequate nourishment.

2005 marks the 5-year review of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concludes that the developing world – with the exception of Latin America and the Caribbean – is in great danger of missing the MDG target of halving the incidence of chronic hunger by 2015.

The FAO report stresses the inextricable linkages between hunger, demographic trends, and the health and status of women. It notes the vital role that improving women’s health and economic and educational status plays in reducing hunger and malnutrition. “Improving maternal health,” the report states, “is key to both saving the lives of more than half a million women each year and breaking the vicious cycle that perpetuates poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”

In part due to rapid population growth, the total number of malnourished people in Africa – about one-third of the world’s hungry – has skyrocketed from 88 million in 1970 to 200 million today. With African countries such as Ethiopia and Niger projected to at least double in population in the next forty years, reducing hunger will remain an uphill battle.

Lack of access to contraceptives that allow women to space and limit births often results in unintended pregnancies and larger than desired family size. This taxes the resources of already overburdened families and communities and exacerbates poverty, hunger and disease. In Ethiopia, one of the areas hardest hit by chronic food insecurity, women give birth to an average of six children – with an estimated 36 percent of married couples desiring modern contraceptives but lacking access.

Greater investments in voluntary planning programs and supplies, including contraceptives, are crucial to meeting the needs of more than 200 million women worldwide who currently lack access – and, as the FAO report indicates, would help to eradicate chronic hunger. For many people in the world’s wealthy countries, the holiday season is often a time for overindulgence in food. But for the estimated 850 million people worldwide who suffer from hunger, this time of year only serves as a stark reminder of their often-constant struggle for adequate nourishment.

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.