Government promotes reproductive health to reduce maternal deaths

Reproductive health issues are the main cause of illness and death for women of childbearing age. Representatives of the government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) told the press on Wednesday that better reproductive health services would reduce the high rate of maternal deaths, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Through common efforts, reproductive health will mean a desired pregnancy, a safe birth for each family and a generation of healthy youth who will fulfill their potential”, declared Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Moldovanu, head of the National Commission for Population and Development. According to the official, the Moldovan government developed several policies and strategies in this field, such as the National Reproductive Health Strategy, the Reproductive Health Law, the creation of reproductive health governmental cabinets. Moldova’s permanent representative to the UN Vlad Lupan said that Moldova recently took over the chairmanship of the UN Commission for Population and Development. “It’s a very responsible task, especially the preparation for the 46th session of the Commission at the UN General Assembly in 2013. Holding the chairmanship is an unique opportunity to discuss policies for population, international migration, demographic tendencies in the context of sustainable development”, he explained. UNFPA deputy representative in Moldova Boris Gilca highlighted the importance of the World Population Day (July 11) as Moldova holds chairmanship of the UN Commission for Population. He saluted the authorities’ efforts to implement reproductive health policies by organizing reproductive health cabinets and service centers friendly to young people. Deputy Minister of Health Gheorghe Turcanu said that the Ministry of Health wanted to put to maximum use the reproductive health cabinets and service centers friendly to young people. Thereby, on July 11, an open doors day would be organized in such cabinets and centers. The Ministry has also developed with UNFPA’s support a video spot “Access and Choice in Reproductive Health”, aired on TV. UNFPA executive director Babatunde Osotimehin stressed in his felicitation that the survival and welfare of women was an important human right. In order to fructify the potential contribution of women to the development of their nations, they must have the possibility to plan their lives and families. Thus, universal access to reproductive health services should be one of the priorities of the international community. The theme announced by the UN for the World Population Day this year is “Universal Access to reproductive health services”. The World Population Day is marked in Moldova since 2003.