Keeping girls in school curbs population growth

Summary of story from Reuters, October 24, 2011

Former Irish president Mary Robinson has said that keeping girls in school is one of the most important things policymakers can do to address the challenges of an ever-increasing population.

The United Nations has predicted that it will reach seven billion at the end of the month.

Family planning experts worry in particular about the looming population boom in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, former Nigerian health minister and executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), told Reuters his focus is very much on empowering women in such a way as to change the cultural norms.

“When a young woman goes through at least secondary education, her children survive better, physically they mature, emotionally they mature, and because they have education, they are able to make choices,” he said.

Family planning experts are frustrated by lack of progress on commitments made to improve women’s sexual and reproductive health at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo.

Progress has been stalled in part, they say, by increasing pressure from social conservatives, especially in the United States, who equate family planning with abortion.

“Family planning can help to slow down population growth”, said Dr Fred Sai, Ghanaian physician and former director general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

Something that Robinson observed while visiting Somalia in July to draw attention to the famine.

“They were having seven, eight, nine children because they hoped maybe one or two might survive — an appalling situation for any mother to be in.”

“What works is education of girls and women and access to healthcare, so that mothers will know their children will survive,” she said.