Friday, April 18, 2008

Protect the Health of Young Mothers

The following comments are excerpted from Susan Rich and Mairo Mandara's opening plenary statement on Sunday, April 27.

We must also ensure that our youth are able to grow into the healthy and productive adults our world needs tomorrow. Young people today are faced with a myriad of health problems, some of which have been with us for a long time – unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted diseases. Some are new, like HIV/AIDS. All these conditions have grave consequences, but, more importantly, all are preventable.

For example, we know that an unwanted pregnancy can abbreviate a girl’s education and diminish her future economic potential. We also know that about a third of all maternal deaths can be linked to unwanted pregnancies. Further, methods to prevent the occurrence of unwanted pregnancies are available to us. We must find ways to inform youth and offer services that protect the health of young girls and young mothers before they conceive a pregnancy that may threaten their lives but also the lives of their babies.

Child spacing and family planning can prevent about a third of all maternal deaths. Family life education can help young people delay childbearing and allow them to complete their education. In doing so, access to information and services can determine whether young people will enjoy economic independence or face a life of struggle. If we ensure the right conditions for our youth to become healthy adults, we will set them on the path toward economic security, for their lifetimes and those of future generations.

Susan Rich is a senior program officer for reproductive health with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Mairo Mandara is an program advisor to the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

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