Few days ago, I had a chance of meeting some individuals that worked with MDG 5: Improve Maternal Mortality Rates. Moreover, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every woman is treated with dignity and respect.
Later did I realize that sometime on 2006, my older sister, Nene, died of giving birth to her second child. In 2002 she gave birth to a baby girl who died later after one month due to heart failure. Two scenarios! In 2002 it's the baby that died and in 2006 it's time of my sister.
I was saddened those times but of course without realizing it how many suffered the same at the fate across the country and around the world.
Miss Tonette gave me a notebook that scribbled: " NO WOMAN SHOULD DIE GIVING LIFE." More alarming is the following data:
a. Everyday, 11 Filipino women die from treatable complication of pregnancy;
b. Everyday, 4,950 Filipino babies are born;
c. Everyday, 30 million Filipinos struggle to survive on a dollar a day or less;
d. Everyday, 5,205 Filipino women get pregnant without intending to;
e. Everyday, 1,530 Filipino pregnant women go into induced abortion; and
f. Everyday, 5.2 million Filipino children are not in school.
But this issue is beyond statistics. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed: You all know that population issues are not about numbers--they are about people.When we speak of maternal mortality, we are not just talking about statistics, we are dealing about tragic deaths. And when we urge action, we are not trying to reduce population growth, we are trying to help individuals exercise their rights.
The balance of peace and development, economic growth is always equated with a healthy population. It is through access to health and options can a true healthy population be achieved. With healthy population, economies are likely to positively work and peace and development goals prosper.
Later did I realize that sometime on 2006, my older sister, Nene, died of giving birth to her second child. In 2002 she gave birth to a baby girl who died later after one month due to heart failure. Two scenarios! In 2002 it's the baby that died and in 2006 it's time of my sister.
I was saddened those times but of course without realizing it how many suffered the same at the fate across the country and around the world.
Miss Tonette gave me a notebook that scribbled: " NO WOMAN SHOULD DIE GIVING LIFE." More alarming is the following data:
a. Everyday, 11 Filipino women die from treatable complication of pregnancy;
b. Everyday, 4,950 Filipino babies are born;
c. Everyday, 30 million Filipinos struggle to survive on a dollar a day or less;
d. Everyday, 5,205 Filipino women get pregnant without intending to;
e. Everyday, 1,530 Filipino pregnant women go into induced abortion; and
f. Everyday, 5.2 million Filipino children are not in school.
But this issue is beyond statistics. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed: You all know that population issues are not about numbers--they are about people.When we speak of maternal mortality, we are not just talking about statistics, we are dealing about tragic deaths. And when we urge action, we are not trying to reduce population growth, we are trying to help individuals exercise their rights.
The balance of peace and development, economic growth is always equated with a healthy population. It is through access to health and options can a true healthy population be achieved. With healthy population, economies are likely to positively work and peace and development goals prosper.
