World Population Day: Focus on needs of women, youth & marginalised, say experts

It is imperative to focus on the needs of women youth and marginalised communities that remain inadequate owing to the rising population said experts on World Population Day on ThursdayWorld Population Day is observed every year on July 11 to raise awareness about global population issues and their impact on society The theme for this year is Leave no one behind count everyoneWith about 14286 crore population India overtook China to become the worlds most populous nation according to the UNFPAs State of the World Population Report in 2023Speaking to IANS Poonam Muttreja Executive Director of the Population Foundation Of India PFI said even though India became the worlds most populous nation we have attained the replacementlevel fertility rateThis means that the average number of children born per woman is sufficient to keep the population size stable from one generation to the next she explainedYet due to a large proportion of young people the population in India will continue to growNonetheless we have made remarkable progress towards population stabilisation Poonam saidHowever she called for a shift in focus on reaching the unreached that is the women young people and marginalised communitiesThe reproductive rights access to resources and health and wellbeing outcomes of these groups remain inadequate Poonam saidThere are approximately 24 million women with an unmet need for family planning meaning they want to stop or delay childbearing but lack the access or agency to use contraceptionThe upcoming budget must increase the investment in family planning especially in longlasting modern contraceptives as addressing these needs is crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable development the PFI chief saidThis was also advocated by the Union Health Minister J P Nadda who called for healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy for the health and wellbeing of mother and childPopulation increases also create congestion and deplete human health resourcesIt also adds load to our already overburdened infrastructure deprives people of basic amenities causes scarcity of water problems related to hygiene and sewage M Wali Senior Consultant Department of Medicine Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told IANSOverpopulation can also worsen health care indices like morbidity and mortality as preventive and screening health care needs of the population especially the vulnerable sections like women children and elderly are not adequately metUplifting women is an efficient strategy to keep the overpopulation problem in check Educated women are more likely to exercise their reproductive rights that is use contraception and motivate their partners for the same plan families and consider termination of undesired pregnancies They are also more likely to understand the importance of having small and healthy families Isha Wadhawan from Fortis Faridabad told IANSAlso ReadFive essential tips to stay diseasefree this monsoon