Reproductive health problems remain the leading cause of ill health and death for women of childbearing age worldwide, the director of Population Affairshas disclosed.

Saikou Trawally, who was speaking Monday at the opening ceremony of the World Population Day on the theme: “Universal access to reproductive health,” held at the Paradise Suites Hotel, further disclosed that millions of women who would like to avoid or delay pregnancy lack access to effective family planning.

He lamented that many also die daily in the process of giving life while a huge number of young people entering their reproductive years are often without the knowledge, skills and services they need to protect themselves. “The theme highlights the significance of reproductive health as a prerequisite for sustainable development and leading us to a world where every pregnancy is wanted; every child birth is safe; and each young person’s potential is fulfilled,” he added.

Trawally stressed the need for increased attention to sexual and reproductive health, describing it as a precondition for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. “The need for increased attention to sexual and reproductive health is a prerequisite for achieving MDG 5 on improving maternal health, also contributes significantly to reducing poverty and hunger (MDG1), and promoting gender equality and empowerment of women (MDG3), and combating HIV and other diseases (MDG6),” he further stated.

The Population Affairs director also opined that the significance of universal access to reproductive healthis key to the attainment of the set targets. He further stressed that access requires that services are of adequate quality – availability of skilled medical personnel, approved and unexpired drugs and equipment, proper infrastructure including safe water and sanitation and that providers do not discriminate on the basis of sexuality, gender, ethnically and age.

“In many countries, perceived poor quality of services, inappropriate treatment and discrimination by health professionals deters many people from using services,” he concluded.