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International Population Day Commemorated in Ibb

International Population Day (IPD) was commemorated during events held in the governorate of Ibb on July 12. The minister of Public Heath and Population, the minister of Youth, the governor of Ibb, deputies from the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), the secretary general of the National Population Council (NPC) and other officials attended the activities.

Dr. Abdulkareem Rase'a, minister of Public Health and Population presented a speech that emphasized the importance of spreading information about population issues such as reproductive health (RH) and family planning. The population growth issue is a burden on the development of the country, Rase'a said.

Likewise, Abdulrahman Al-Akwa, the minister of Youth, stressed the effects of population growth on all issues relevant to national development such as the state of the economy, national health care, youth development, and education.

Al-Akwa stated that a large population requires services like education, heath care, roads, transportation, water, electricity, and all other rudimentary services that present a big burden for the government. Women, youth, local authorities and all other strata of society should contribute to solving this issue, according to Al-Akwa.

Ali Al-Kaisy, the governor of Ibb, discussed the importance of family planning, a method that has become necessary as the population explosion in Yemen has presented impediments to the country's development.

Hans Obdeijn, the UNFPA representative, remarked that with the population expected to grow to 35 million by the year 2025, the incidence of poverty among those under the age of 25 will increase and they will face ever greater problems such as heightened unemployment, poverty, early marriage and pregnancy, inability to complete secondary education, and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, especially HIV/AIDS.

The UNFPA champions young people's rights to education, health and employment, Obdeijn stated. “We recognize that investment in young people will promote social and economic growth. Key to these efforts are keeping girls in school, building life skills, delaying marriage and pregnancy and preventing transmission of HIV infection. UNFPA firmly believes that the young people of Yemen have the power to drive development forward.”

This year's theme for IPD “Young People” stressed the particular challenges faced by youth in Yemen and in the world. Nearly half of the world's population—over three billion people—is under the age of 25. In Yemen , the number of citizens under the age of 25 is approximately 9 million people. As Obdeijn commented, “ They represent the largest cohort of young people in human history, and far too many among them confront bleak prospects.”

Young people in the world are threatened by poverty, illiteracy, HIV/AIDS and, as far as women are concerned, the risk of complications in pregnancy and childbirth. More than 500 million people aged 15 to 24 live on less than $2 per day; 96 million young women in developing countries do not know how to read or write; and 14 million adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 become mothers every year. Every day, 6,000 young people are infected with HIV.

The UNFPA representative noted that the goals of the 2005 World Summit of reducing poverty and improving health and well-being will only be met if young people are actively involved in policymaking and programming, if their voices are heard, their needs met and their human rights are respected.

On his visit to the governorate of Ibb, Obdeijn met with minister of Public Health and Population, the minister of Youth and the governor of Ibb. He discussed various issues relating to UNFPA activities in Yemen . Talks were held in a positive atmosphere that bode well for future UNFPA activities.