The lack of access to family planning results in 75 million unintended pregnancies each year in low and middle-income countries. If funding rose to the level required to adequately address this unmet need, there would be an estimated 21 million fewer unintended pregnancies and over 8 million fewer abortions each year.

On October 31, 2011 the world’s 7 billionth person will be born. Twelve years ago, on October 12, 1999, Adnan Nevic the 6 billionth person was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

Population Control
There is no doubt the world is becoming more and more overcrowded and those who are living in poverty seemingly have the most children. One billion people were born in the last 12 years because there are over 215 women worldwide who have no access to modern effective contraception.

Many people are worried about population growth in some of the world’s poorest countries. Population growth can have much negative impact on health, economy and environment, to name a few. In fact, there is a direct relationship between population growth and efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goal 1 to reduce poverty and extreme hunger by half by 2015.

Women and girls must have access to all options to control the size of their families if we are to achieve such an ambitious target. Abortion and access to modern effective contraception should be a fundamental right. There is no better alternative to support (poor) people in taking responsibility for their reproductive health.

I was very shocked to learn that there was a proposal in the US to cut funding to the United Nations Population Foundation (UNFPA). Then I heard Herman Cain, a Republican Presidential candidate; say he will work towards defunding the International Plan Parenthood Foundation (IPPF). Millions of people benefit from the programmes of these organisations. Cain also said he believes abortion should be illegal in America because life begins at conception. What if Cain or one of the other Republicans who are trying to woo the votes of social conservatives were to become the 45th President of America?

US and its Impact on Global Reproductive Health Initiatives
The US Government is on of the main funders of reproductive health and family planning worldwide, but there have been several years of stagnant funding. Not surprisingly, this has had significant impact on millions of people in developing countries who depend on the support for foreign entities to empower them and increase their access to modern contraception.

The recent proposal to cut international family planning by $154 million from current funding levels for 2011 is beyond ludicrous. Luckily, the US Senate has increased that to $700 million, including $40 million for UNFPA.

What if there were many social conservatives in the US Congress? If the $154 million in cuts were enacted, we would see an estimated:
               o 9.4 million fewer women and couples receiving contraceptive services
               o almost 3 million more unintended pregnancies
               o 1.3 million more abortions (mostly unsafe)
               o 1.3 million more unplanned births
               o 7,700 more maternal deaths
               o over 35,000 more orphans

Now that funding has risen to the level required to adequately address unmet need, there will be about 21 million fewer unintended pregnancies and over 8 million fewer abortions. Cuts to international family planning and reproductive health undermine efforts to stem the tide of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The millions of women who will lose access to services because of budget cuts will also be at greater risk of both unintended pregnancy and HIV.

For every $1 spent on international FP efforts, governments save up to $31 in health care, water, education, housing, and other costs because women who are in good health are better able to get the education and resources they need to provide for themselves and their families.

Not many of us young people in developing countries are interested in American politics, at least not until something historic happens, as was the case when Barack Obama became the 44th President. However, it is important that we understand the important role the US plays and how the decisions made on Capitol Hill in Washington DC can affect our lives.

Thanks to Janine for her contributions to this article. Congratulations to youth activists who helped in lobbying on Capitol Hill for increasing funding for international family planning and reproductive health