Population Resource Center

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International Family Planning: Saving Lives

Mar. 09, 2007

One woman dies every minute of every day from childbirth and pregnancy - an estimated 540,000 women each year. Of these deaths, 99 percent occur in low-income countries. EngenderHealth provides essential support to these low-resource regions. On March 9th PRC associates; Becky Beaugard and Larry Wilcher joined EngenderHealth directors: Andrew Levack, Sakumzi Ntayiya, Wuleta Betemariam to meet with representatives for Senators; Durbin (D-IL), Nelson (D-FL), and Specter (R-PA) on the successes and challenges of improving reproductive health.

Washington DC
Friday, March 9th, 2007
WELCOME: Rebecca Beauregard, Congressional Liaison, DC Office, Population Resource Center
Larry Wilcher, Program Associate, DC Office, Population Resource Center

INTRODUCTION: Andrew Levack, Director, Men As Partners Program, EngenderHealth

PANELISTS:

Wuleta Betemariam, Deputy Director for Programs, EngenderHealth

Sakumzi Ntayiya, County Director, South Africa County Office, EngenderHealth.

CO-SPONSORS: U.S. Congress
ATTENDEES:

• Office of Senator Richard Durbin (D,IL)

• Office of Senator Bill Nelson (D,FL)

• Office of Senator Arlen Specter (R,PA)

PANEL DISCUSSION:

Mr. Levack started the meetings by informing the senate representatives that an estimated 201 million women do not have access to needed contraception and that more than 20 million women undergo unsafe abortions— 78,000 die. These startling numbers demonstrate the need for continued and improved access to contraception and family planning services. Deputy Director for Programs, Ms. Betemariam spoke of her experience, in more than 40 countries, of expanding contraceptive choices, including maternal health and other essential reproductive health care services into family planning service. Mr. Ntayiya, Country Director of EngenderHealth’s South Africa Country Office, shared what he has learned from his work to include men in their reproductive health efforts. Mr. Ntayiya has made communities, health care providers, and national health systems more aware of the possibilities of improving men’s reproductive health choices.

These meetings were a rare opportunity for Senate representative to learn from real world experience of international reproductive health professionals. While Senators debate budgets on Capitol Hill, they often lack the context of the real world applications. The EndgenderHealth international visitors explained how Congressional decisions and government funds translate into saved lives