Collective involvement of NGOs, private sector and corporate sector needed

On World Population Day, the government committed to expanding the reach of modern contraceptives by 2020 at the International Family Planning Summit in London on Tuesday.

The Health Ministry launched a campaign focussing on population stabilisation in 146 high fertility districts across seven States in India. The summit brings together 37 governments, 16 companies and 11 civil society organisations, to accelerate progress on rights-based family planning programmes.

“Mission Parivar Vikas will focus on 146 high fertility districts in seven States with high TFR. Under this, specific targeted initiatives shall be taken for population stabilisation through better services delivery,” said J.P. Nadda, Health Minister at a function organised by Jansankhya Sthirita Kosh.

India has over 9.2 million married and sexually active adolescents (ages 15-19) of whom 26% have an unmet need for contraception. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health said population dynamics have a significant influence on sustainable development.

“The changes in population growth rates and age structures are closely linked to national and global developmental challenges and their solutions. She further stated that the issue of population stabilisation is so gigantic in its proportion that the government alone cannot address the issue and thus the collective involvement of NGOs, private sector and corporate sector shall play a pivotal role,” Ms. Patel said.

Changing needs

The Minister added that the Indian government will be conducting half yearly review of the programme to gauge whether the programme is moving in the right direction. “We have enhanced the basket of contraceptive choices to meet the changing needs of people and have taken steps to ensure quality assured services and commodities are delivered to the last-mile consumers in both rural and urban areas.”

At the Family Planning Summit, C.K. Mishra, Health Secretary announced that India will focus on FP2020 goals to drive access, choice and quality of Family Planning (FP) services and increase the modern contraceptive usage from 53.1% to 54.3% and ensure that 74% of the demand for modern contraceptives is satisfied by 2020.

Allocation for family planning alone in the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCH+A) budget is expected to exceed $2 billion by 2020. The governments and partners pledged commitments of least $2.5 billion by 2020, with the majority of the funding ($1.5 billion) committed by countries in Asia and Africa.