UK Government Strengthens Commitment To Improving Health In The World's Poorest Countries

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 15 Jul 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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At an event at the House of Lords to mark World Population Day, International Development Minister, Gillian Merron, tonight announced additional funding of £5 million over the next 5 years to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) to improve sexual and reproductive health in the world's poorest countries. The announcement increases the Department for International Development's (DFID) total support to IPPF to £8.5 million annually for the next five years.

Sexual and reproductive ill-health accounts for 30 per cent of the worldwide burden of illness and premature death for women; pregnancy related health complications are the single biggest killer of girls aged 15 - 19 years in developing countries. The increase in funding from DFID recognises the importance of improving sexual and reproductive health and the role of Civil Society, particularly community based organizations, in delivering health care to the poorest, most marginalized and hard to reach individuals and communities.

IPPF's work focuses on improving access to family planning and contraceptive services, improving maternal and child health, addressing HIV and AIDS, and tackling unsafe abortion, a major killer of women and girls in developing countries. This work is critical to improving the health and lives of millions of the poorest women, men and young people in 177 countries worldwide.

There are many challenges to be faced in providing sexual and reproductive health, not least is the fact that the single largest cohort of young people the world has ever seen, over 1 billion people, is approaching sexual maturity. By 2025 the number of women requiring sexual and reproductive health services in Africa alone is estimated to increase by over 105 million.

Dr. Gill Greer, Director General of IPPF, said, "This announcement is just the most recent example of the Government of the United Kingdom's commitment to global health, which is so vital to the fight against global poverty. >From playing a key role in health system strengthening to supporting Civil Society, DFID is rightly acknowledged as a world leader in global health. DFID's support for sexual and reproductive health has been especially critical to ensuring the poorest women, men and young people in the poorest nations of the world have access to health services.

"The world has made many promises to provide universal access to sexual and reproductive health, but in recent years global funding has declined while more and more people require information and services. The Government of the United Kingdom has made clear its commitment to addressing the funding gap, other donors must now do the same."

International Development Minister, Gillian Merron, said, "While some progress is being made in sexual and reproductive health, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, especially in improving maternal health. One woman dies in childbirth every minute around the world. That is a tragedy for families, communities and countries.

"I am pleased to announce the UK's new five-year commitment to support the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Over the next five years, we will now provide £42.5 million to help IPPF's work in providing family planning, improved maternal health and safe abortion services to tens of thousands of women across the world."

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global service provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. We are a worldwide movement of national organizations working with and for communities and individuals.

We see a world where women, men and young people everywhere have control over their own bodies, and therefore their destinies. A world where they are free to choose parenthood or not; free to decide how many children they will have and when; free to pursue healthy sexual lives without fear of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. A world where gender or sexuality are no longer a source of inequality or stigma. We will not retreat from doing everything we can to safeguard these important choices and rights for current and future generations

International Planned Parenthood Federation

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