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Reproductive Health

Concern over low allocation

Staff Correspondent
An inter-governmental body .-yesterday expressed concern over the increasing population pressure on the developing countries, but lowering of budgetary allocation for reproductive health, especially in family planning.
“Developing countries are suffering again due to increasing population pressure. We therefore underline the need to reposition family planning as a priority in development," said Harry S Jooseery, executive director of Partners in Population and Development (PPD), at a press conference at a city hotel.
PPD, an inter-governmental alliance of 25 developing countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, held the press conference in observance of its 15th anniversary and South-South Day.
Addressing the media, Jooseery’ said the world has lost a sense of crisis and urgency with regard to reproductive health. The resource allocation for family planning in international population assistance has come down from 55 percent in 1995 to less than five percent now.
Stating that half million women die annually from preventable causes and none hears about, he said, “It is a crime in the 21st century that
one woman dies every minute oftheday."
Bangladesh is the best in the subcontinent for lowering its total fertility rate from 63 in 1975 to 2.6 now, while contraceptive prevalence is 56 percent now from eight percent in the mid-seventies, headded.
“But it does not mean that we sit behind. We need to invest more in reproductive health, maternal and child health to enhance the quality of life, which remains a prerequisite for sustainable growth and development"
Stressing the need for more partnerships among the regions and countries. Jooseery said the countries in the global south and northern countries face multiple crises where hunger afflicts one billion people - an unprecedented number --while unemployment is up and trade is down as a result of the economic crisis.
Referring to climate change, he said many developing countries will suffer from the consequences of climate change more intensely, which could encourage divergence in the global economy.
“Solutions to these and other ills require stronger cooperation, starting with one's immediate neighbours." he said.
PPD officials Amadou Moreau, Farah Naz Hossain and Rahnuma Afroz also spoke.