Family Planning and State of World Population Control 2012

She sat loosely on a very short wall, joint by two corners to a wall on a very small house in one of Monrovia’s slum communities—Clara Town.

 

Probably not being fully aware of the presence of few visitors, who have shown up before her house. The visitors, including health practitioners from Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia (PPAL) and journalists, were moving from house to house speaking with some women, who are taking the family planning pills. Others also included United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) staffers.

 

She became conscious of the visitors’ presence when one of them, our Health Correspondent, walked over to her and drew a conversation out of her.

 

After a few lines of words, which brought out laughter, the main conversation began.

 

“My name is Cleopatra Wilson. I am 23. I had a son when I was 18. I am in the eighth grade.”

 

Cleo, as she is called for short, like many other young mothers who regret having kids at very early ages, said had she known she would have never done what brought her son at that age.

 

“I suffered a lot; I did not know anything. I was too small.”

 

However, she stated that she wants to move further with her education, so she is now one of many women, who are on the family planning pills.

 

Cleo stated that family planning messages are now being adhered to by most young people, especially girls. She told our Health Correspondent that four months ago, her boyfriend (name not given) introduced family planning to her, which she gladly received.

 

“I am now on Jadelle for five years,” she said proudly.

 

Jadelle is an implant contraceptive, which can be inserted by a trained health professional in the insertion and removal procedures, probably due to its side-effects.

 

Cleo is not alone, there are many other women, who have signed up for this family-size method, which the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) just-released report says is an essential human right that unlocks unprecedented reward for economic development.

 

The UN specialized agency report says that making voluntary family planning available to everyone in developing countries would reduce costs for maternal and newborn health care by $11.3 billion annually, according to The State of World Population 2012 , published November 14 by UNFPA.

 

UNFPA stated that family planning delivers immeasurable rewards to women, families, and communities around the world. By enabling individuals to choose the number and spacing of their children, family planning has allowed women, and their children, to live healthier, longer lives. Looking ahead, if an additional 120 million obtained access to family planning, the report estimates 3 million fewer babies would die in their first year of life.

 

“Family planning has a positive multiplier effect on development,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin. “Not only does the ability for a couple to choose when and how many children to have help lift nations out of poverty, but it is also one of the most effective means of empowering women. Women who use contraception are generally healthier, better educated, more empowered in their households and communities and more economically productive. Women’s increased labour-force participation boosts nations’ economies.”

 

“Family planning is not a privilege, but a right. Yet, too many women—and men—are denied this human right,” said Dr. Osotimehin. “The pledge we made in July in London to increase access to family planning will improve the lives of millions and will each year help avert 200,000 maternal deaths.

liberianobserver.com