FOCUS
World Population Day
Rwanda, UN Root for Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services
R
wanda’s population growth rate is among the highest in Africa currently at 2.9 percent. Based on the NISR National Population Projections (July 2009) Rwanda’s population in 2012 is estimated at 11.033.141. The theme for this year’s World Population Day celebrations was “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services.” Reproductive health problems continue to be among the leading causes of ill health and death for women of childbearing age worldwide. Lack of access to reproductive health services such as family planning services is also the leading cause of families producing large numbers of children, most of whom they are unable to take care of. Based on a new study that was released ahead of the London Conference on Family Planning, the use of contraceptives can save the lives of more than 250,000 women in the developing world annually. Access to reproductive health services leads to improved maternal and child health services, good
quality of life and planned pregnancies. It’s in this regard that Rwanda joined the rest of the world, on July 11, 2012, to mark the World Population Day (WPD). Ms. Victoria Akyeampong, the UNFPA Country Resident Representative, in a statement to mark WPD, said that some 222 million women who would like to avoid or delay pregnancy lack access to effective family planning. Nearly 800 women die every day in the process of giving life. About 1.8 billion young people are entering their reproductive years, often without the knowledge, skills and services they need to protect themselves. “Investing in reproductive health is crucial. Reproductive health is at the very heart of development and crucial to delivering the UNFPA vision, a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child birth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled,” Ms. Akyeampong noted. She also said that Maternal and newborn deaths hurt families, slow economic growth and lead to
2.9%
Rwanda’s population growth rate (Among the highest in Africa)
250,000
The lives of women saved by the use of contraceptives in the developing world annually
10.7million
Estimate of Rwanda’s population according to the 2002 Census results
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