CA calls for strengthening motivational programme to reduce poor population
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed called for strengthening the motivational programmes for workers, landless and floating people, urban slum dwellers and the poor in char and remote hilly areas to reduce the poor population, reports UNB.
He said the Family Planning Directorate has taken up a good number of motivational programmes in this regard. But it is difficult for it alone to build up public opinion against the backdrop of low literacy rate, unemployment, unawareness, stigma and superstition.
Dr Ahmed urged all concerned including different ministries, NGOs, non-government service-oriented institutions and various professional organisations to take up realistic programmes and implement those to achieve the objective.
The head of the caretaker government was inaugurating a programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, marking the World Population Day 2008 Friday.
The theme of this year's population day is: "It's a right, let's make it real."
The Chief Adviser suggested that population control programmes would have to be taken targeting the early-married couples.
Presently, the rate of unmet need in family planning is 17.6 per cent, which was 11.3 per cent in 2004. This shows the rate of unmet need increased by over 6 per cent in last four years.
Juveniles, ranging from 10-19 years, constitute 23 per cent of the total population in the country. The percentage of unmet need is much among the married women of 15-19 years old and the rate is 19.8 per cent, it was told in the function.
Dr Fakhruddin said that despite demand of family planning services by a huge number of couples, often it is not being possible to reach such services to them.
The family planning services still do not reach 17.6 per cent of couples and quick steps will have to be taken to this end, he said, adding that the rate of unmet need is much more in Sylhet, Chittagong and Barisal.
Health Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali, DG Family Planning Directorate Dr. Kamrun Nesa Khanom and UNFPA country representative Arthur Erken also spoke at the function, chaired by Health Secretary AKM Zafarullah Khan.
Earlier, the Chief Adviser distributed prizes among the seven best performers in family planning activities from seven categories in six divisions.
A total of 42 prizes were given for making special contribution in checking maternal and infant mortality and in family planning activities last year in the categories of family welfare inspector, family welfare assistant, mother and child welfare centre, upazila, union, union health and family welfare centre and non-government organisations.
Each prize carries a crest and a certificate, while additional Tk 5,000 in prize bonds for family welfare inspector and family welfare assistant categories.
The Chief Adviser in his speech said population is a very important matter for the country in the perspective of its progress, people and standard of life and in the efforts of development.
Necessity to keep population limited for alleviating poverty and attaining socioeconomic progress is recognized by all today, he told the function.
He mentioned that the population would stand at 172 million in 2020 and rise to 210 million in 2060 though it might be possible to bring down the replacement worthy population fertility to targeted 1 by the year 2010.
Presently, the rate of population growth is 1.43 per cent with almost 953 people living in a square kilometre area.
Dr Ahmed said this increase of the population would aggravate the present crisis of meeting fundamental demands including education, food and health.
He said the Family Planning Directorate has taken up a good number of motivational programmes in this regard. But it is difficult for it alone to build up public opinion against the backdrop of low literacy rate, unemployment, unawareness, stigma and superstition.
Dr Ahmed urged all concerned including different ministries, NGOs, non-government service-oriented institutions and various professional organisations to take up realistic programmes and implement those to achieve the objective.
The head of the caretaker government was inaugurating a programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, marking the World Population Day 2008 Friday.
The theme of this year's population day is: "It's a right, let's make it real."
The Chief Adviser suggested that population control programmes would have to be taken targeting the early-married couples.
Presently, the rate of unmet need in family planning is 17.6 per cent, which was 11.3 per cent in 2004. This shows the rate of unmet need increased by over 6 per cent in last four years.
Juveniles, ranging from 10-19 years, constitute 23 per cent of the total population in the country. The percentage of unmet need is much among the married women of 15-19 years old and the rate is 19.8 per cent, it was told in the function.
Dr Fakhruddin said that despite demand of family planning services by a huge number of couples, often it is not being possible to reach such services to them.
The family planning services still do not reach 17.6 per cent of couples and quick steps will have to be taken to this end, he said, adding that the rate of unmet need is much more in Sylhet, Chittagong and Barisal.
Health Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali, DG Family Planning Directorate Dr. Kamrun Nesa Khanom and UNFPA country representative Arthur Erken also spoke at the function, chaired by Health Secretary AKM Zafarullah Khan.
Earlier, the Chief Adviser distributed prizes among the seven best performers in family planning activities from seven categories in six divisions.
A total of 42 prizes were given for making special contribution in checking maternal and infant mortality and in family planning activities last year in the categories of family welfare inspector, family welfare assistant, mother and child welfare centre, upazila, union, union health and family welfare centre and non-government organisations.
Each prize carries a crest and a certificate, while additional Tk 5,000 in prize bonds for family welfare inspector and family welfare assistant categories.
The Chief Adviser in his speech said population is a very important matter for the country in the perspective of its progress, people and standard of life and in the efforts of development.
Necessity to keep population limited for alleviating poverty and attaining socioeconomic progress is recognized by all today, he told the function.
He mentioned that the population would stand at 172 million in 2020 and rise to 210 million in 2060 though it might be possible to bring down the replacement worthy population fertility to targeted 1 by the year 2010.
Presently, the rate of population growth is 1.43 per cent with almost 953 people living in a square kilometre area.
Dr Ahmed said this increase of the population would aggravate the present crisis of meeting fundamental demands including education, food and health.