World Population Day being observed

Desk Report: The World Population Day is being observed in the country, as elsewhere across the globe, on Tuesday to create awareness about population growth and related issues.

The theme of this year's day is "Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations."

Although access to safe, voluntary family planning is a human right, central to gender equality and women's empowerment and a key factor in reducing poverty, some 214 million women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and effective family planning methods for various reasons, according to UNFPA.

Many of those with an unmet demand for contraceptives live in the poorest countries on earth. Investments in making family planning available also yield economic and other gains that can propel development forward, reports dailyasianage today.

This year's World Population Day coincides with the Family Planning Summit, the second meeting of the FP2020-Family Planning 2020-initiative, which aims to expand access to voluntary family planning to 120 million additional women by 2020.

Various organizations have chalked out elaborate programs to observe the day.

The main national program of the day will be held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city where Health Minister Mohammad Nasim is expected to be present as the chief guest.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.

In his message, the President said, "Family planning is a pre-requisite for progress in any country. Small family will play a vital role in making a happy and prosperous nation."

He urged all concerned to make easily available family planning and other reproductive services.

In her message, the Prime Minister urged all concerned to be more sincere to ensure the best use of grassroots level service infrastructures for providing family planning, maternity and child health, and reproductive health services to build a healthy nation.


risingbd/Dhaka/July 11, 2017/Tipu/Nasim