PHOTO: Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Ingrid Wetterqvist
-Over 800 deaths of women from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth daily
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
The United Nations Population Fund or UNFPA in partnership with the Sweden Embassy has launched 2019 State of World Population Report, with over 800 deaths of women from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth each day.
According to the report, over 800 women die every day from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth while two hundred and fourteen million women attempted to prevent pregnancy but lack access to modern facilities.
This was announced at the National Celebration of International Conference on Population and Development or ICPD@25, United Nations Population Fund or UNFPA @50 and the Launch of State of World Population report 2019 at the Monrovia City Hall.
Speaking during the launch of the report May 30, 2019, Sweden’s Ambassador Ingrid Wetterqvist said this report focuses on the adolescent girls with the theme unfinished business, the pursuit of rights and choices for all Liberians.
‘’This year State of the World Population Report reflects on the current state of sexual and reproductive health and rights 50 years after the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was established,’’ Amb. Wetterqvist noted.
According to her, with the progress made over the past five decades, hundreds of millions of women today still face economic, social, institutional and other barriers that prevent them from making their own decisions about whether, when, how often and with whom to become pregnant.”
The State of the World Report launch was part of UNFPA 50th year’s anniversary and 25th years of existence of the International Conference on Population and Development that were endorsed in Cairo by 179 governments. It is a global program of action that linked women empowerment, rights and sexual and reproductive health to sustainable development.
The event brought together several government Ministries and Agencies, including the UN Resident Coordinator, and the Liberian Parliamentary Council on Population and Development with students across the City beginning with a parade from the Capitol Building main entrance to Monrovia City Hall for the indoor program.
Statistics show that more than 33 million women and over 1.6 million adolescents and young people with sexual and reproductive health services and for prevention and tackling gender-based violence.
Contraceptives provided by UNFPA with the potential to avert an estimated 30,800 maternal deaths, 11.6 million unintended pregnancies, and 3.6 million unsafe abortions.
She said this year’s report offers a look at the key moments for sexual and reproductive rights across five decades, from the discovery of the HIV to the Commission on the Status of Women’s call to end child marriage.
Access to necessary supplies, adequate facilities, and trained health workers also presents a challenge to people getting the sexual and reproductive health care they need.
Serving as Chief Launcher, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor remanded Liberians that much is needed as the 2019 report shows that while much has been attained, much more remains to be done in fulfillment of UNFPA’s key role – “as the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
‘’This is a time for reflection and for resolutions — a time to take stock of our successes and challenges, to strengthen our resolve and to set goals for the future; as UNFPA marks a new beginning and roll out our new Strategic Plan.”She said.