Jacqueline Morby Elected Board Chair of Population Action International
November 1, 2006
Jacqueline Morby, a private equity investor, has been elected Chairman of the Board of Population Action International (PAI). This comes at a critical juncture in PAI's history as both board and staff engage in strategic planning to realign the organization's work. Morby is a long-time resident of Pittsburgh, PA.
Nicaragua's Devastating New Ban
October 30, 2006
Women in Nicaragua suffered a terrible blow last Thursday when the Nicaraguan legislature voted in favor of a total ban on all abortions-even in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is in danger. This shocking move will surely result in higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. PAI condemns this misguided decision and urges the Nicaraguan government to rescind this dangerous law.
Thank you, Mr. Annan; Welcome Mr. Ban
October 24, 2006
On January 1, 2007, when U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan steps down and South Korea's Ban Ki-moon assumes office as the new head of the U.N, PAI and many others will be watching to see whether Ban Ki-moon will support what Kofi Annan started-recognition of the importance of reproductive health to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The 300 Millionth American: The Bigger Picture
October 16, 2006
This week, the United States will welcome the birth of its 300 millionth citizen. The birth of a healthy baby into a family that wants it is always a cause for celebration. This landmark event has caused each of us to reflect on the state of our nation and the implications of population growth on issues ranging from congestion to quality of life to energy consumption. It took forty years for the U.S. population to jump from 200 million to 300 million-but what would it be like if our country's population had instead doubled in that time? What if, instead of being a rich, industrialized country, we were already struggling to feed, clothe and educate our children?
Universal Access to Reproductive Health Key to Eliminating Poverty
October 10, 2006
The international reproductive health community celebrated last week when the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a new target-universal access to reproductive health by 2015-under Millennium Development Goal 5, the reduction of maternal mortality by three quarters. By including this new target, the world takes a giant step towards reducing the devastatingly high level of maternal mortality.
The Tools to Conquer Hunger Include Family Planning
October 2, 2006
In the 1950s and 60s, the first Green Revolution utilized scientific advances in agriculture to double the world's food production. Now, as we face famine in areas where the population is still growing rapidly, expanded funding for family planning programs can make permanent inroads into world hunger. Otherwise, as PAI Council member and father of the Green Revolution Norman Borlaug said in his 1970 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance lecture, “…the success of the green revolution will be ephemeral only.”
Promising Unified Reproductive Health Plan for Africa Emerges
September 25, 2006
Last week, Ministers of Health of the African Union (AU) adopted a cohesive strategy to “achieve universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in Africa.” PAI calls for full support for this laudable plan in the form of adequate donor funding and technical assistance to ensure the success of this strategy.
Expand EC Globally: What's Safe for U.S. Women is Safe for All
September 18, 2006
After years of inexcusable stalling on the part of the Bush administration, science trumped politics last month when the Food and Drug Administration approved emergency contraception (EC), allowing its sale over the counter to women eighteen and over. Now it's time for the U.S. to help women in the developing world gain access to the life saving benefits of emergency contraception. With risk of maternal death as high as 1 in 6 in countries such as Afghanistan, compared to 1 in 2,500 in the U.S., EC can save lives. PAI urges USAID to start purchasing and using the morning-after pill as part of their family planning arsenal.
As the U.S. Grows, So Grows the World: Environment Pays High Price
September 11, 2006
A recent report released by the Center for Environment and Population warns that population growth in the U.S. is a "major contributor" to environmental degradation globally-a linkage that PAI has long highlighted around the world. Despite some claims that a global “birth dearth” is more of a concern than population growth, the U.S. population is poised to reach 300 million in October. And population is growing even more rapidly in developing countries-in Ethiopia, for example, the population is projected to double by 2045. Greater access to family planning and reproductive health services allow women and men to determine the number and spacing of their children-and helps ease population pressures on fragile ecosystems.
The "Education Vaccination": a Proven HIV Prevention Method for Girls
September 5, 2006
Girls' education deserves more investment and a higher profile in HIV prevention. According to a recent report by ActionAid, girls with a secondary level education or higher are much less at risk for contracting HIV. They are more likely to wait longer before having sex and to use a condom when they do. In light of the recent feminization of AIDS in Africa-where, according to this report, females make up 74% of young people aged 15-24 living with HIV or AIDS-education and access to condoms and contraceptives are crucial to young women at risk of HIV and unintended pregnancy. PAI couldn't agree more: Educating girls is central to empowering women, improving family well-being, and achieving sustainable development the world over.
