Males urged to become partners in maternal health

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid marked World Population Day on 11 July by calling for men’s greater participation in maternal health to reduce the number of women who die each day throughout the world in childbirth and ensure safe motherhood.

According to UNFPA, over 1,400 women die every day during pregnancy and childbirth. “Today, more than half a million women die each year during pregnancy and childbirth, 99 per cent of them in developing countries. Many more suffer serious complications that can have a severe impact on their quality of life and that of their families”, noted Mr. Ban in his message marking the Day.

“Almost all of this death and suffering is preventable. As partners for maternal health, men can save lives”, he stated. “The support of an informed husband can improve pregnancy and childbirth outcomes complications, when women need immediate medical care”.

Reflecting on the Day’s theme, Mr. Ban called on men to become partners in maternal health and agents for change, “supporting human rights and safe motherhood in every way possible”.

Ms. Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA, in her message for the Day, stated that World Population Day was a time to focus on commitment and action to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.

“UNFPA supports safe motherhood initiatives around the world. We work with Governments and other partners to ensure that every woman has access to three reproductive health services that save women’s lives. These are voluntary family planning, skilled attendance at birth, and emergency obstetric care if complications arise during delivery”.
Ms. Obaid emphasized that experience showed that “men’s involvement and participation could make all the difference. By discouraging early marriage, promoting girls’ education, fostering equitable relationships, and supporting women’s reproductive health and rights, progress is made”.

“Today, it is time for all men – as fathers, brothers, husbands, community and religious leaders, and government officials – to become partners in maternal health”, she said.
Observed annually on 11 July, World Population Day seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, particularly in the context of overall development. The Day is marked around the world with rallies, exhibitions and public awareness campaigns highlighting its theme.

In Thailand, the Day was observed with a press conference as well as a panel discussion organized jointly by the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand and UNFPA.