7/30/2019 Unfpa Sowp 2012 Press Release

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Press Release

Myanmar Launches UNFPA Report on The State of World Population 2012By choice, not by chance: family planning, human rights and development

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar, 14 November 2012 UNFPA and the Ministry of Health jointly launched the2012 State of World Population Report, which highlights access to family planning as an essential humanright that can unlock unprecedented rewards for socio-economic development.

A wide range of stakeholders from government, national and international non-governmental organizations,the United Nations and the diplomatic community attended the event.

In her opening address, Dr. Nilar Tin, Deputy Director General of the Department of Health, indicated that theMinistry of Health has attached priority to maternal and child health care in its National Health Plan forMyanmar. She also stated that the Ministry of Health established a national budget line to cover part of theneeds for birth spacing commodities in Myanmar. Dr. Nilar Tin emphasized the importance of cooperationamong ministries, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in meeting the goals set out in theNational Health Plan. She welcomed the call by the State of World Population report 2012 for better financialand political commitments for family planning services.

Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Ahad, Representative of UNFPA highlighted family planning as a human right whichenables individuals and couples to decide on the number, timing and spacing of their children. He elaboratedon the health and socio-economic benefits of family planning and explained that family planning can save thelives of women and infants since it enables women to avoid unintended and unwanted pregnancies andabortion. Mr. Abdel-Ahad said; Nearly one quarter of Myanmar women of reproductive age have expresseddesire to practice birth spacing but do not have access to contraceptives. He commended the politicalcommitment of the Government towards reproductive health and family planning, and mentioned thatmeeting the country s needs for contraceptives, estimated at $5.8 million in 2012, is crucial to reducingmaternal and infant mortality. He quoted Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA sayingFamily Planning must be fully integrated into all current and future development initiatives, including theglobal sustainable development framework that will build on the MDGs after 2015.

Dr. Theingi Myint, Deputy Director (MCH) of the Department of Health presented an overview of thenational birth spacing program in Myanmar while Dr. Sid Naing, Director of Marie Stopes Internationalemphasized the need for service providers to target families in rural areas, with low income and education,and to provide them with accessible, user-friendly family planning services.

This years report calls for a multipronged approach t o ensure access to family planning by all women, men

and young people. It suggests that countries seek to simultaneously strengthen health systems, introduce orenforce laws that protect individuals rights, reduc e poverty, challenge harmful traditional practices, eliminatechild marriage, end discrimination, remove logistical impediments and ensure a broad range of contraceptivesupplies.

###For more information, please contact:

Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Ahad, UNFPA Representative, ahad@unfpa.org, tel. +95 1 546 309Executive Summary

Full Report and Translations

http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/swp/2012/EN-SWOP2012-Summary-final.pdfhttp://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/swp/2012/EN-SWOP2012-Summary-final.pdfhttp://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/12511http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/12511http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/swp/2012/EN-SWOP2012-Summary-final.pdf