THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

              PRESIDENT CLINTON URGES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT 
          INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

                               April 7, 2000

Today, in a White House ceremony marking World Health Day, President Clinton will recognize the critical role that family planning plays in saving the lives and protecting the health of women around the world. He will call for action to address the fact that every day, at least 1,600 women around the world die from the complications of pregnancy and childbirth. The President will urge Congress to fully fund his FY 2001 budget initiatives to address this and other health care challenges facing women and families, including: an additional $169 million in family planning assistance to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), thereby restoring funding to 1995 levels ($541.6 million); $25 million to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA); and $100 million through USAID, the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, primarily in Africa.

MILLIONS OF WOMEN WORLDWIDE ARE WITHOUT ACCESS TO SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FAMILY PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES. Use of family planning can have profound effects on women's health and dramatically reduce infant and child deaths. Related reproductive health services promote safe motherhood and prevent sexually transmitted diseases. America has been the leader in providing family planning and reproductive health care for women and their families in developing countries, investing over $3.5 billion through USAID and UNFPA since 1993, as well as close to $1 billion in HIV/AIDS prevention. But, much more needs to be done.

• One in four maternal deaths could be prevented through family planning. Every day, at least 1,600 women die from preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth -- almost 600,000 women per year. Complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death and disability among women aged 15 to 49 in developing countries. Only 53 percent of the deliveries in developing countries take place with a skilled birth attendant. Of all the health statistics monitored by the World Health Organization, maternal mortality shows the greatest disparity between developed and developing countries.
• Sixteen thousand people are infected with HIV every day. In most countries, 40 percent of new HIV infections are among women, and this rate is rising. Half of the newly infected people are under 25 years of age. Thirty-four million people now live with AIDS -- 95 percent of whom are in the developing world. Family planning programs play a key role in reducing transmission of HIV/AIDS.
• More than 1 million people are infected with a preventable sexually transmitted infection (STI) every day. There are 333 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases annually. The four most common sexually transmitted diseases are easy to cure with antibiotics. Family planning programs play a key role in reducing transmission of sexually transmitted infections and diseases.

PRESIDENT CLINTON URGES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT HIS PROPOSALS TO SAVE WOMEN'S LIVES AND PROTECT WOMEN'S HEALTH. President Clinton's budget this year contains several important proposals to improve women's health. Today, the President urged Congress to support and pass his family planning and reproductive health initiatives, including:

• Investment of $541 million in family planning efforts overseas, a 45 percent increase over FY 2000 levels which restores funding to FY 1995 levels. An estimated 34,000 children under age five die every day in developing countries, and almost 600,000 women die each year of preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. By avoiding unintended pregnancies and helping women bear their children during the healthiest times for the mother, family planning helps prevent maternal and child deaths. The President will highlight that his FY 2001 budget proposes $541 million, an increase of 45 percent over FY 2000 funding levels, to fund the provision of family planning services and related reproductive health services overseas and urge that it be passed without restrictions on the ability of organizations to participate in the democratic process in their own countries.
• Investment of an additional $100 million in HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment efforts in Africa and developing countries in other regions. The President's budget will invest a total of $342 million in HIV prevention and AIDS treatment around the world, more than doubling the FY 1999 level. Funds will be targeted to the countries where the disease is most widespread and where our efforts will have the greatest impact. Activities include: increasing primary prevention efforts; providing care and treatment for individuals infected with HIV; caring for children orphaned by AIDS; strengthening the public health infrastructure; and expanding HIV prevention programs in the workplace.
• Investment of $25 million in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The United States has been a supporter of UNFPA, the largest multilateral provider of population assistance, for over 30 years. Its work complements our bilateral efforts. The President's budget proposal includes $25 million to support the UNFPA's work providing much needed voluntary family planning services, maternal and child health care, and STD prevention -- including HIV/AIDS -- in 160 countries.

A CRITICAL TIME TO SAVE WOMEN'S LIVES, PROTECT WOMEN'S HEALTH AND PROVIDE WOMEN WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR NATIONS.

The President will note that this is a critical time to invest in international family planning programs. Today, there are one billion people between the ages of 15 and 24 -- the largest generation ever -- entering their reproductive years, and a record number of people living with or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

The President will recognize the critical role that family planning plays in saving the lives and protecting the health of women around the world. America's strong support for international family planning programs will allow millions of women to plan their families, provide for their children's future, and contribute to the development of their nations.

###