Ban Ki-moon: bridge gap between demand, supply for reproductive health care

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged concerted action by Member States to bridge the gap between demand and supply for reproductive health care. In his message for World Population Day being observed today, he said, "We must mainstream reproductive health and rights into all development and poverty reduction plans. Investing in universal access to reproductive health is a crucial investment in healthy societies and a more sustainable future." This year's World Population Day is focused on the theme of 'Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services'. Reproductive health problems remain the leading cause of ill health and death for women of childbearing age worldwide. Some 222 million women who would like to avoid or delay pregnancy lack access to effective family planning. Nearly 800 women die every day in the process of giving life. About 1.8 billion young people are entering their reproductive years, often without the knowledge, skills and services they need to protect themselves. On the World Population Day, many activities and campaigns will call attention to the essential part that reproductive health plays in creating a just and equitable world. Last year the world population edged to 7 billion people up from 2.5 billion in 1950. This has had profound implications for global development. A world of 7 billion is both a challenge and an opportunity with implications on sustainability, urbanization, access to health services and youth empowerment, the UN said. In 1989, in its decision 89/46, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended that, in order to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in the context of overall development plans and programmes and the need to find solutions for these issues, July 11 should be observed by the international community as World Population Day.