UNFPA reaffirms advantages of investing in reproductive health

A baby in Tibet enjoying a ride on his mother’s back (Photo by Phattanee Kmolwatananisa)

Universal availability of modern contraceptive services would save 1.5 million women and children each year, while unplanned birth would be reduced by 72 per cent per year, according to a new publication by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Reducing Poverty and Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Arguments for Investing in Reproductive Health & Rights, released on 29 June outlines future dividends of investing in reproductive health. These dividends would be reflected in healthier, more productive individuals and families, which would contribute to stronger, wealthier nations.
Among the many benefits of reproductive health are improving family and community well-being, boosting economic gains, saving women’s and children’s lives, and greatly curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS – benefits that go a long way in helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Poor reproductive health, says the report, accounts for a sizeable proportion of the world’s total burden of disease and disability – as high as one third among all women, and one fifth of the total global burden, including men and women.
In addition to the many physical and psychological benefits of investing in sexual and reproductive health, the publication highlights the economic returns that go beyond the health sector – including public expenditures on education, housing infrastructure, food, and other social services.
Access to family planning leads to lower levels of mortality and fertility. This creates a larger body of young people with the ability to be active in the workforce, leading to a “demographic window” that yields powerful macroeconomic benefits. The demographic window could reduce poverty in developing countries by about 14 per cent between 2000 and 2015.
The publication also presents a list of practical ways to invest in reproductive health. The list was included in the “Stockholm Call to Action”, which was endorsed by a number of ministers, parliamentarians and leaders of multilateral agencies, civil society and youth organizations earlier this year. The document calls for investments to empower women to participate fully in development, to promote and build more equitable health systems, to link HIV/AIDS efforts with reproductive health, and to support young people’s health and development.
Note: The publication is available at www.unfpa.org/publications/index.cfm
(Source: UNFPA News Release, 29 June)