State observes World Population Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 11 2013: The World Population Day was observed today at MFDC auditorium, Palace Compound under the joint aegis of Family Welfare Services and National Rural Health Mission.

This year's theme of the World Population Day was "Focus is on adolescent pregnancy", and speaking on the occasion, NRHM Director Dr O Ibomcha said that the risk of mother's death is four times higher when girls below 19 deliver babies than matured women and the possibility of infant mortality is 75 per cent.Infant mortality rate among babies delivered by mothers below 19 years of age is 75 per cent within the first month.

Dr Ibomcha said that the number of girls delivering babies constitute 7.4 per cent against the total number of child birth in Manipur.

If a girl below gets pregnant, qualified doctors should be consulted.

In case, she opts to go for abortion, it should done in accordance to proper medical procedures otherwise the girl may die or she may be rendered incapable of bearing children in future, Dr Ibomcha cautioned.

Young boys taking out a mass rally at Imphal in commemoration of World Population Day

The World Population Day observance was graced by Health and Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Health Director Dr A Bijoy, gynaecologist Dr G Nabakanta and Family Welfare Director Dr O Ibomcha as presidium members.

Giving key-note address, Family Welfare Deputy Director Dr Th Arunkumar said that the world population has crossed 7.2 billion.

It was around 5 billion about 25 years back.

Taking serious note of the alarming rise in human population, World Population Day was observed on May 11 starting from 1987.Together with framing the National Population Policy in 2000, the Government of India started taking up extra measures to ensure that modern medical facilities at times of child delivery all over the country.

Population of India has reached 121 crores and a single district in UP has one more than one crore population which is greater than the total population of Japan, stated Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing.

He stated that Government is not asking to stop child birth but it is only working to promote child birth with proper planning.

Dr A Bijoy remarked that the population of Manipur is just a trifling as compared to the population of India.

Yet, in terms of HIV infection, Manipur is one among the six States having the highest rate of HIV infection.

G Nabakanta said that one cannot stopped a couple from delivering babies.

What is crucial is to ensure that all the newly born babies are given necessary medical treatment, nutritious food and educate them properly.

The observance was featured a mass rally which started from MFDC and ended at the same point after crossing New Checkon.