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Parliamentarians meet in Colombo

• South Asian Parliamentarians to work for Better Population Planning
• Sri Lanka has been able to reduce population
• Need to reach under served pockets
• Laws alone cannot bring change; Education of Women Vital

South Asian Parliamentarians to work for
Better Population Planning

Colombo - Parliamentarians from SAARC countries met in Colombo at a time when India neared the one billion mark and the total population growth of South Asia reaching 1.5 billion. They assembled in the Parliament of Sri Lanka under the chairmanship of Hon. Nirmal Siripala de Silva, Hon. Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine. He is also the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Committee of Parliamentarians on Population and Development.

The SAARC Regional Parliamentarian Conference was organized by the National Committee of Parliamentarians on Population and Development in Sri Lanka, in cooperation with UNFPA and AFPPD. Parliamentarian delegations from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka attended the conference which was opened by the Honorable Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, the Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva on 6th August. The parliamentarians also attended family planning and reproductive health activities in Kandy.

Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva said that population growth in South Asia has reached nearly 1.5 billion and in spite of economic gains made by South Asian countries, population growth has kept people from enjoying the fruits of this labor. He informed the parliamentarians that Sri Lanka has been able to reduce its population and increase the scope of its health program.

Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director of AFPPD, provided insight into the programs and future goals of AFPPD. He said that it has long been a desire of AFPPD to organize a regional event in Colombo.

Dr. Mrs. Suneeta Mukherjee, UNFPA Country Representative, who also gave excellent support in organizing the meeting, said that Sri Lanka has a national program of informing and involving parliamentarians in population and reproductive health programs. National seminars and study visits abroad are part of these programs. Hon. Nirupama Rajapakse, Minister of Women’s Affairs of Sri Lanka extended thanks and said that she gained immense experience by attending some of the AFPPD events.

Dr. A.T.P.L. Abeykoon, Director Population Division, spoke on population changes, influences and challenges in Sri Lanka. He said that Sri Lanka has been successful in reducing its rate of growth of population from 2.8 percent in 1950 to 1.2 percent in 1999. This reduction has been due to the effective policies and programs implemented by successive governments since Independence in 1948.

Some of the factors contributing to the mortality decline: The development and expansion of primary health care facilities. The establishment of health care units for every 100,000 population and a midwife for every 3,000 population has been implemented. Traditional birth attendants have been progressively replaced by institutionally trained midwives. Improvement of nutrition through food imports and subsidized distribution of food for more than five decades since the 1950s. The rise in educational attainment of the population, in particular that of females from 8.5 percent in 1901 to 90 percent in 1994 has also contributed to the mortality decline.

Since the early 1950s, international migration has also contributed negatively to population growth due to the control of immigration through legislation. Repatriation of labor to India. Outflow of the Gulf States and Southeast Asia countries for employment. Emigration has also taken place due to the ethnic conflict.

Dr. Abeykoon said that the pace of urbanization has been slow. According to him, Sri Lanka faces challenges such as a significant number of adolescents and youth in the population - about 30 percent. This has resulted in high unemployment rates among youth. Sexually active unmarried youth are on the increase. Higher proportions of illegitimate births among adolescents are occurring. One-fifth of all induced abortions take place among youth. The elderly population is expanding. The proportion of those aged 60 years and over is expected to increase from about 9.5 percent in 1999 to 20 percent by the year 2025.

Dr. V. Jeghanathan, Director General Health Services, spoke about reproductive health in Sri Lanka. He stated that Sri Lanka has, over the past few decades, recorded significant achievements in the field of reproductive health. The contraceptive prevalence rate has increased 66.6 percent and maternal mortality rate has been reduced to 62 per 100,000 live births. The coverage of antenatal care is about 90 percent. About 84 percent of pregnant women are protected against tetanus. More than 90 percent of births take place in institutions. Sri Lanka has made the paradigm shift from maternal, child health and family planning to reproductive health. The focus is on the life-cycle approach. The shift from women-centered programs to ones including both sexes and a shift from quantity to quality services is taking place.

He said that even though Sri Lanka’s maternal and infant mortality rates have declined, about 50 percent of these deaths are preventable. There is a ten percent unmet demand for family planning. 12 to 15 percent of couples are estimated to be sub-fertile. Age of maturity has decreased, while the age at marriage has increased. This has increased the sexually active period of youth before marriage. The number of induced abortions are on the increase. STDs and HIV/AIDS have not been well controlled. Menopausal and post-menopausal problems are common.

Dr. V. Jeghanathan further stated that several challenges faced Sri Lanka. Cultural, social and religious impediments in addressing sensitive issues. The difficulty of reaching the under served pockets. Interest of donor agencies vs. country needs. Establishing equity in the distribution of limited resources. Establishment of geriatric care institutions and promotion of domiciliary care. Reproductive health problems of adolescents, youth and the working population will demand additional resources.

Address by Shabana Azmi. M.P. (India)