The campaign aims to inform and raise awareness of including young people on sexual and reproductive health, including information on the various contraceptive methods. It is also promote the impact of the use of family planning on population and development, and also mitigate rumors.
The national campaign for family planning takes place in Antsohihy, Mandritsara, Farafangana, Vangaindrano and Antananarivo Renivohitra on 26, 27, 28 September 2013. The launching of the Campaign was held on 26 September at the Namontana Basic Health Centre in Antananarivo on the occasion of World Contraception Day, in the presence of Minister of Public Health and the Representative of UNFPA in Madagascar.
Sexual and reproductive health issues remain one of the main causes of precarious health and mortality among women of reproductive age. This causes more than 60 million unwanted pregnancies each year, exposing girls and women to serious risks of death, disability or unsafe abortions. Today, about 222 million women in developing countries want to avoid and / or plan for future pregnancies. However, they can not do so, due to the lack of information and advice needed about family planning. They can not benefit from modern contraceptive methods at an affordable cost, while access to family planning services is a fundamental right.
"Access to reproductive health products and services is a fundamental human right because it saves lives, improves the health of women and young people. It reduces the number of maternal disabilities and deaths, which is at the heart of UNFPA's mandate, "said Mrs. Agathe Lawson, UNFPA Representative. Family Planning plays a critical role in the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality. It also has a significant impact on poverty reduction, the economic and social development of a nation. A woman, a mother, a healthy wife, whose pregnancies are spaced so as to give her time to take care of her children, contributes more to the well-being of her family. In this regard, the international community is committed to prioritizing universal access to reproductive health.
In Madagascar, the situation of women and girls is worrying. According to the 2008/2009 Demographic Health Survey every day in the country about 10 women die while giving life and 3 of them are under 18 years old. These deaths could have been avoided if all had had the freedom to exercise their right of access to voluntary family planning. Today, about 19% of Malagasy women who need to space or limit their births do not use any contraceptive methods.
These figures are alarming and all decision-makers, traditional and community leaders need to understand the magnitude of the problem . Family planning is not just about women. Men have a role to play in promoting the use of contraceptives and in alleviating preconceptions about family planning. In recent years, the Ministry of Public Health and its partners have succeeded in increasing the rate of women who use modern methods of contraception from 5% in 1992 to 29% in 2009.
UNFPA, as the lead UN agency for the well-being of the population, and in particular the most vulnerable groups, will continue to support and support the Government and its partners so that every Malagasy woman who so wishes can access and use the reproductive health services of which family planning.
During this campaign, numerous awareness-raising activities were conducted, such as debates, talent contest, artistic animations, mobile video sessions. Community agents, associations and NGOs are mobilized during the three days to provide reproductive health services.
