Cross-party call for investment in reproductive health

Transcript

A group of New Zealand MPs are calling for Pacific governments to urgently invest in sexual and reproductive health, particularly family planning.

The call has been made by the New Zealand Parliamentarians Group on Population and Development, which is a cross-party group of MPs, to coincide with World Population Day today.  

The group's chair, Paul Hutchison, says issues such as high teenage pregnancy rates need to be addressed urgently if Pacific nations are to see progress in sustainable development.

Dr Hutchison told Amelia Langford when people lack control over their reproductive health they often lack control over their lives and future prospects.

PAUL HUTCHISON: Investing in family planning is one of the most cost-effective ways to meet unmet need in the Pacific and the call to invest in the wider reproductive health and education is in order to give men, women and young people the choice to control their own destiny and it comes as a priority to have in place in order to achieve sustainable economic development.

AMELIA LANGFORD: How critical is this at the moment?

PH: Oh, very critical. In countries, like Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, there are very very high levels of unmet need. Of young men and women who have no access to family planning -  who have little knowledge about modern technologies and in those countries there are also high levels of infant mortality and maternal mortality - let alone sexually transmitted diseases etcetera.

AL: So what does the group on population and development want these governments to do in the Pacific?

PH: Oh, we are saying that investment in this area of family planning alone is extremely cost-effective in meeting this unmet need because it does exactly the thing of allowing young people to have choice in controlling their own destiny.

AL: And there are some challenges there aren't there because I understand some countries are not welcoming of family planning?

PH: Yes look this is absolutely right and the Roman Catholic Church, for instance, in Kiribati has some difficulties with this and I have experienced that firsthand when I have been up there. However, there are models in South America where they have managed to develop family planning arrangements that suit both those with specific views such as Roman Catholics as well as the general population.

AL: Okay so there can be ways of tailoring it to specific places?

PH: Yes that has been proven in South America and I think the Roman Catholic Church has shown a degree of flexibility in that direction and that's possible to apply throughout the South Pacific.

Paul Hutchison acknowledges funding is an issue but says there is considerable aid coming from New Zealand and Australia and the possibility of untapped aid from the World Health Organisation and the Gates' Foundation.