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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 ANDPROVIDE WOMEN WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OFTHEIR 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.