Young mass, bigger challenge, says Naveen

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched the population stabilisation fortnight to bring back the focus on family planning.Addressing a function to mark the World Population Day, the Chief Minister  reiterated the State Government’s commitment to ensure universal access to reproductive health and empower women and men to plan their families.  As 50 per cent population of the state is below 24 years, the challenge remains huge, he said adding that the reproductive health of this young mass calls for urgent attention. Naveen said helping women, to decide ‘if and when to have children; and providing information and services,’ is a priority of the State.  The marked decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of Orissa from 303 to 258 indicates the progress made on the maternal health front, but we still have a long way to go, he said. The Health and Family Planning Department should reach out to the most vulnerable population with information and services for family planning. This will save not only the lives of women and children but also improve countless others, said Naveen. Linking HIV prevention and family planning methods is crucial, particularly in districts where the prevalence of HIV is high, Naveen said adding that the State should look at such community-based programmes to reach out to vulnerable population. Stating that during last year, the State achieved 86 per cent of the ‘expected levels of performance’ in family planning, Naveen said various initiatives of the department in improving the family welfare programmes need to be strengthened. The Population of Orissa has reached 4.19 crore in 2011 from 1.03 crore in 1901. This is 3.47 per cent of the country’s population which puts Orissa at the 11th spot among the states.   Among others, Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya and Health Secretary Anu Garg addressed the function.