Today is the second to last day of University Coalitions for Global Health's Global Health Week of Action, a campaign to raise awareness on a breath of global health issues and call on young people and allies to take action.

So far, we've called on universities to make the fruits of their research available in low- and middle-income countries by signing the Philadelphia Consensus Statement, demanded the creation of a transparent and sustainable U.S. global health strategy that will strengthen health systems and bolster health work forces, and contacted our members of Congress to ensure adequate funding for essential global health programs, including those addressing global HIV and AIDS.

Today's day of action zeroes in on the importance of sexual and reproductive health information and services in the field of global health, with a focus on the need to increase funding for U.S. international family planning assistance to at least $1 billion for fiscal year 2010.  In this time of economic downturn, it is imperative that the U.S. government invest in programs which will have the greatest long term benefits for worldwide health and development.

$100 million of funding for international family planning results in:

• 3.6 million more contraceptive users
• 2.1 million unintended pregnancies avoided
• 825,000 fewer abortions
• 970,000 fewer unplanned births
• 70,000 infant deaths averted
• 4,000 maternal lives saved

Investing in these programs saves the U.S. government a great deal in more costly foreign aid programs down the road.  With 200 million women worldwide who wish to avoid or delay pregnancy but lack acces to moden methods of contraception and half a million dying every year from pregnancy related causes, the time is now.

This week at the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, the U.S. delegation voiced strong support for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning.  But we need to put money behind this rhetoric.  Now, more than ever, we must support the programs we know work.

Voice your support for $1 billion for international family planning programs.  Join the hundreds who have already taken action and email your members of Congress and sign the petition!