Public rally marks World Population Day observance
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 11 2013:
Health and Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing has appealed to the people to follow proper family planning and nurture their children fully.
He was speaking as Chief Guest of the World Population Day observed jointly by Family Welfare Services and National Rural Health Mission, Manipur at MFDC Hall, Palace Compound here today.
Phungzathang further said that parents must take proper care of their children and seek proper advice from experts regarding family welfare planning.
He highlighted that Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India with some of its districts having population over one crore.
Moreover, the population of a district of Uttar Pradesh surpasses the total population of Japan.
People should strive for a happy and welfare family, Health Minister averred.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of Family Welfare Services Dr O Ibomcha said that the World Population Day is being observed worldwide this year under the theme "Focus in on Adolescent Pregnancy".
The observance focuses on adolescent pregnancy which has emerged as one of the major concerns at present, he noted.
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A mass rally was also taken out from MFDC Complex to New Checkon in connection with the observance of World Population Day.
It may be noted that according to UNFPA, the total population of girls across the World is over 60 millions of which over 50 millions belong to the developing countries.
The cases of teenage pregnancy is increasing in an alarming rate with approximate 16 million girls aged 15-19 giving birth each year, which leads to serious complication during pregnancy as well as after child birth and results in death especially in the developing countries.
The major causes of adolescent pregnancy are poverty, gender inequality, child marriage, forced marriage, lack of education, power imbalances between adolescent girls and their male partners, and inadequate rights to prohibit such practices.
To curb the cases of adolescent pregnancy, an individual effort is not sufficient and hence to bring about global attention in this issue this year's World Population Day theme is focused to teenage pregnancy.
A combined effort of nations, communities and individuals towards this serious problem is the only possible way to stop adolescent pregnancy.
Moreover, firm laws need to be made and enforced in every country that raise the age of marriage to 18.In addition to that, rights against child marriage and to prevent child marriage should be made stronger.
Providing sex-education to adolescents and youth is also important to avoid such cases.
Adolescents and youth must be provided with age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to develop the knowledge and skills they need to protect their health throughout their lives.
However, education and information are not enough.
Good quality reproductive health services must also be readily available in order for adolescents to make informed choices and be healthy.
Adolescent pregnancy is a serious problem today but this can be reduced by joint efforts of government as well as society by creating proper awareness about the possible consequences and complications about early pregnancy.