PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Mauritius: 'Better reproductive health is important for men, vital for women' - Minister
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – The Mauritian Health and Quality of life Minister, Anwar Husnoo, on Tuesday said that reproductive health, including family planning, is a basic human rights, saying that reproductive rights should form part of the right to good health.
Speaking in Port Louis at a workshop to mark the World Population Day 2017, the Minister said 40 years ago, world leaders proclaimed that individuals have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children.
“Forty years later, contraception and family planning information remain out of reach for hundreds of millions of women, men and young people. Unmet needs are major issues among the poor and marginalized," he said.
According to him, women play a very critical role in the economy of a country and their survival should not be left to chance.
“There is no doubt that the provision of reproductive health services and the prevention of HIV infections are sine qua non conditions for the sound health of the female population and ultimately to sustain the socio-economic development of any country," Mr Husnoo emphasized.
As far as Mauritius is concerned, the Minister said the provision of reproductive health services has always been one of the main concerns of the Government, recalling that health services in the island are provided free of charge to all citizens, irrespective of their economic situation.
Speaking about the demographic situation of Mauritius, Mr Husnoo recalled how in the early 60s, the island experienced a demographic crisis when the population growth rate was 3.1 per cent per annum.
“Had that rate been maintained, the population of Mauritius would have increased from about 700,000 in the 60s to nearly 3.5 million currently," he added.
He also recalled how alarmed by the sudden increase in the growth rates and the repercussions these could have on the economy, the government of Mauritius adopted a series of policy measures to bring about a healthier balance between human resources and its environment. These included a very coherent, well adapted and sustainable Family Planning Programme, coupled with access to education and employment opportunities to women.
“The population growth rate has been brought down to less than one percent annually and today the population size is about 1.26 million," Mr Husnoo observed.
But now, according to him, Mauritius is witnessing a demographic shift with a declining fertility rate from 5.86 in 1962 to 1.37 in 2016, and increasing life expectancy. Life expectancy has increased from 62 in 1962 to 78 in 2016 for women and from 59.0 years to 71 years for men during the same period.
“The total fertility rate is well below replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, and we are now facing a fast growing population of the elderly, which has major social and economic consequences," Mr Husnoo said.
The Minister spoke of the government’s policy which is now oriented towards a paradigm shift from reaching demographic targets to a long term vision for the sustainable development of the country.
“The policy is to increase birth rate so that the fertility increases and is maintained at replacement level. This will bring in the long run a stable population to ensure the socio-economic development of the country," he emphasised.
-0- PANA NA/VAO 11July2017
Speaking in Port Louis at a workshop to mark the World Population Day 2017, the Minister said 40 years ago, world leaders proclaimed that individuals have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children.
“Forty years later, contraception and family planning information remain out of reach for hundreds of millions of women, men and young people. Unmet needs are major issues among the poor and marginalized," he said.
According to him, women play a very critical role in the economy of a country and their survival should not be left to chance.
“There is no doubt that the provision of reproductive health services and the prevention of HIV infections are sine qua non conditions for the sound health of the female population and ultimately to sustain the socio-economic development of any country," Mr Husnoo emphasized.
As far as Mauritius is concerned, the Minister said the provision of reproductive health services has always been one of the main concerns of the Government, recalling that health services in the island are provided free of charge to all citizens, irrespective of their economic situation.
Speaking about the demographic situation of Mauritius, Mr Husnoo recalled how in the early 60s, the island experienced a demographic crisis when the population growth rate was 3.1 per cent per annum.
“Had that rate been maintained, the population of Mauritius would have increased from about 700,000 in the 60s to nearly 3.5 million currently," he added.
He also recalled how alarmed by the sudden increase in the growth rates and the repercussions these could have on the economy, the government of Mauritius adopted a series of policy measures to bring about a healthier balance between human resources and its environment. These included a very coherent, well adapted and sustainable Family Planning Programme, coupled with access to education and employment opportunities to women.
“The population growth rate has been brought down to less than one percent annually and today the population size is about 1.26 million," Mr Husnoo observed.
But now, according to him, Mauritius is witnessing a demographic shift with a declining fertility rate from 5.86 in 1962 to 1.37 in 2016, and increasing life expectancy. Life expectancy has increased from 62 in 1962 to 78 in 2016 for women and from 59.0 years to 71 years for men during the same period.
“The total fertility rate is well below replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, and we are now facing a fast growing population of the elderly, which has major social and economic consequences," Mr Husnoo said.
The Minister spoke of the government’s policy which is now oriented towards a paradigm shift from reaching demographic targets to a long term vision for the sustainable development of the country.
“The policy is to increase birth rate so that the fertility increases and is maintained at replacement level. This will bring in the long run a stable population to ensure the socio-economic development of the country," he emphasised.
-0- PANA NA/VAO 11July2017
