Every US$1.0 investment in family planning can save $14 in health and social costs, prevent 30 per cent of maternal deaths, and reduce two-thirds of unintended pregnancies in the country, according to the National Family Planning Strategy for 2025-2030, launched on Tuesday.
The strategy addresses key challenges, including high unmet needs among adolescents, early motherhood due to child marriage, reliance on short-acting methods, low uptake of long-acting contraceptives, and regional disparities in continuing the country's success in family planning.
Professor Md Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, attended the launching ceremony at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital as the chief guest.
Catherine Breen Kamkong, UNFPA Bangladesh Representative, was present as the special guest.
With technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the strategy has been formulated for advancing sexual and reproductive health as well as empowering women and youth across the country.
Health Secretary Mohammd Saidur Rahman, Additional Secretary of Medical Education and Family Welfare Division Md Mahbub Alam, Director General of Directorate General of Family Planning Dr Ashrafi Ahmad, and Director General of Directorate General of Health Services Dr Md Abu Jafor attended the ceremony. Representatives from the key ministries, UN agencies, development partners, NGOs and academia were also present.
The chief guest, in his speech, called for ensuring proper implementation of the strategy at the local level, and stressed on conducting new surveys to guide its effective implementation.
The UNFPA Bangladesh representative said family planning is not just a health intervention. It gives women and couples the power to decide if and when to have children, breaking the cycle of poverty. All these open the doors to education, employment, and dignity.
The speakers said Bangladesh's family planning journey has been marked by extraordinary success, with the use of modern contraception methods, soaring from 8.0 per cent in 1970s to 64 per cent of now. But the progress has recently been stagnant, leaving approximately 5.0 million women with an unmet need for contraception.
They also said the new strategy marks a shift from a historical focus on population control to a rights-based approach that champions choice, empowerment, and inclusion. Crucially, the plan aligns with the global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
smunima@yahoo.com
