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The North West Province’s support for the universal call for attention to the essential part that reproductive health plays in creating a just and equitable world is to be amplified at the provincial event to commemorate World Population Day to be held at the Orion Hotel in Rustenburg on Thursday.

The theme adopted by the United Nations to re-energise commitments made in the past towards universal access to reproductive health and to recognise those who provide information, services and supplies as part of commemorating the 2012 World Population Day is “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services.”

“Although reproductive health is recognised as a human rights issue which should be at the very heart of development and crucial to delivering the United Nations Population Fund vision of a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child birth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled, problems associated with it remain the leading cause of ill health and death for women of childbearing age worldwide says Premier Thandi Modise.

Premier Modise added that with the world population having reached 7 billion, investing in sexual and reproductive health is one of the surest and most effective ways to promote equitable and sustainable development and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

“We are challenged to take urgent concerted action to bridge the gap between demand and supply of reproductive health care because women and young people who are in good health, and who have the power and the means to make their decisions about how many children to have-and when to have them, are better able to contribute to the development of their societies. If we can reach the poorest and most vulnerable communities with reproductive health information and services, we can save many lives and improve countless others. We will also make significant strides in reducing poverty, advancing development and protecting human rights.” she stressed.

The provincial commemoration hosted by the Planning Commission in the Office of the Premier in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund and the Provincial Department of a Health is intended at promoting and informing citizens on various aspects of reproductive and sexual health will determine whether we are committed to the idea that everyone has a right to reproductive health.