WHO Raises Alarm: Family Planning Must Be Prioritized
Washington, DC - November 6, 2006PAI's goal of achieving reproductive health equity for all women gained currency last week with the release of a report citing unprotected sex as the second leading cause of disability and death in the developing world, trailing malnutrition. The report, coordinated by the World Health Organization, found “declining financial support, increased political interference and an overall reluctance to tackle threats to sexual and reproductive health” and urged the global community to return family planning to the forefront of economic development issues.
Despite the high rates of harm or death associated with unprotected sex, more than 120 million couples still lack access to the modern methods of contraception they desire. According to the report, over half a million women die each year from complications due to pregnancy and childbirth and an estimated 80 million women each year have unintended or unwanted pregnancies—over half of which end in abortion. And while “rapid population growth poses a bigger threat to poverty reduction in most poor countries than does HIV/AIDS,” donor support for family planning has dropped by $100 million in less than a decade. It’s a staggering laundry list of statistics that shows a world in desperate need of intervention.
As the report illuminates, sexual and reproductive health is inextricably linked to reducing poverty, maternal mortality and the spread of HIV/AIDS. But with such lack of political and financial support, population will continue to grow at an unsustainable rate, women and children will continue to die needlessly, and history will judge us for failing to support proven health interventions. Only through increased funding and a renewed commitment to family planning and reproductive health programs can we have the most profound effect on the health and well being of people around the world.
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.
