Human population is set to hit seven billion by the end of 2011. As we approach this immense milestone, it is important to understand how we got here, analyse the impact of our choices and realise that our decisions can and will impact the future. It is a good time to take stock of the growing population situation in Pakistan. We have made progress but a lot still needs to be done. For this political and financial commitment is required. Most of our politicians do not take interest in this subject because they don’t see immediate gratification which can be cashed in votes in their next elections. But Pakistan will not develop unless we make a serious commitment towards population control.
Rahnuma Family Planning Association of Pakistan, a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), joins its federation in the call for renewed focus on the reproductive health of the ‘bottom billion’ – the poorest and most vulnerable people, many of whom are young and female. Today and every day globally, 215 million women cannot get information and contraceptives they want to plan when and if they become pregnant or to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections. Those most at risk are the poorest, least educated girls and young women and their children, in countries like Pakistan the natural disasters and conflict further increase their vulnerability.
As 1.8 billion young people around the world approach sexual maturity the world is stumbling towards a sexual and reproductive health crisis: currently 16 million adolescent girls become mothers every year, pregnancy and child birth remains the single largest killer of girls and young women aged 15–19 years in poor countries and almost 40 percent of the 6,800 new HIV infections each day are among young people. At least 2.5 million girls face death or disability and ill-health each year because of unintended pregnancy and the many barriers they face to access to services.
Urgent attention is required to address the needs of young people: new research shows that globally 27 percent of the world’s population is aged 10–24 years and in Pakistan 60 percent of its population is below the age of 29, research also shows that not only do youth form one of the most neglected groups in public health, but that they also bear a disproportionate burden of ill-health.
IPPF Director General Dr Gill Greer on occasion of the World Population Day said, “Despite significant progress over the last three decades, access to sexual and reproductive health services and information remains beyond the reach of much of the world’s population. This is particularly true for young people, who are regularly denied the information and services they need to take control of their own destinies.
“The latest global population projections emphasise the necessity of providing safe and effective contraceptive services to the 215 million women who need it. At the same time, the world cannot just close its eyes and continue to ignore the needs of the worlds’ largest ever population of young people; to do so would be to perpetuate one of the greatest health inequities the world has seen. The contraceptive crisis must be avoided if we are to have any realistic hope of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.”
Rahnuma Family Planning Association of Pakistan is observing the World Population Day this as always in partnership with provincial health departments and other like-minded NGOs. In Punjab, a ceremony is being held today (Tuesday) and the chief minister, acknowledging the importance of the subject has agreed to attend. Mahtab Rashdi, president Rahnuma FPAP will moderate a discussion panel and Syed Kamal Shah will be one of the panellists. Other important key players are UNFPA, Marrie Stopes Society, Shirkat Gah and Green Star Social Marketing.
This will be a good time to review our performance at the 44th CPD session held in New York earlier this year. Pakistan was admired for being progressive enough to include four civil society organisation members in its official delegation but the language changes incorporated in the final document on Pakistan’s suggestion leave a lot of questions unanswered. It is a good time to look deep into those suggestions and remove ambiguities about on issues like; Is the country willing to recognize its youth as sexual beings? Is it willing to change laws and harmful traditions that stand in the way of us becoming a healthy nation that respects individuals’ rights?
Rahnuma FPAP urges the country’s decision makers to take a pledge on occasion of the World Population Day to prioritise reproductive health so we can also progress as a nation. In Balochistan the event will take place on July 14 likewise in Sindh also. Rahnuma FPAP is also working in partnership with population welfare departments of these provinces for the event.
The writer is Rahnuma FPAP director
