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World Population Day 2009:
Investing in women's health, education
World Population Day which falls today stresses the importance of
investing in the health and education of women as the global financial
and economic crisis threatens to push 200 million people back into
poverty. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called to make
health and education of women a political and development priority.
The theme of this year's World Population Day, "Responding to the
economic crisis: why investing in women is a smart choice," provides a
chance to focus on the importance of investing in women and girls. The
global economic crisis threatens to reverse hard won-gains in education
and health. As women represent the majority of the world's poor they
will face increased health risks especially if they are pregnant.
In her World Population Day message, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive
Director of UNFPA, said today, complications of pregnancy and childbirth
are leading killers of women in the developing world. "Maternal
mortality represents the largest health inequity in the world.
This health gap will only deepen unless we increase social
investments, maintain health gains and expand efforts to save more
women's lives," she said.
"Investing in reproductive health, in particularly, will help women
and girls avoid unwanted or early pregnancy, unsafe abortions as well as
pregnancy related disabilities. This would mean that women stay
healthier, are more productive and have more opportunities for
education, training and employment, which in turn benefits entire
families, communities and nations," the Executive Director said.
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Lanka a success story
Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in achieving universal access
to primary education and healthcare. With a literacy rate of 89.2
percent, life expectancy at 77 years for women and maternal mortality
ratio of 44.3 per 100,000 live births, Sri Lanka shows that with the
right investments women's well-being can be improved even prior to
achieving high levels of economic development.
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World population as of July 10, 2009 - 6.77 billion. Fastest rates of
world population growth - Briefly in 1950s - longer periods in 1960s and
1970sPopulation in Sri Lanka - 20,238,000
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