Delegates want Population Council revived
Delegates to the National Conference on Population and Conference have resolved to revive the National Population Council to track progress and implementation of population policies and programmes.
A similar version of a multidisciplinary body—Family Planning Council—was abolished in 1999 on the basis that its programmes were being duplicated in the Ministry of Health even though it was established by an Act of Parliament.
In a communiqué issued at the end of a three-day conference in Lilongwe, delegates felt that the recommendations should be fully implemented, but through a multi-disciplinary council to enhance coordination.
“Establish and equip a multi-disciplinary and cross sectoral National Population Council to enhance coordination and management of population and development issues in all sectors,” the communiqué reads.
If established, the council will be a successor to the National Family Welfare Council, which was established by an Act of Parliament in 1990 for purposes of coordinating, promoting, fostering, and implementing the family welfare programmes of Malawi.
Among others, the council was responsible for promoting standards of contraceptive care in Malawi by ensuring adequate and appropriate supply and wide distribution of a variety of methods of contraceptives.
It was also meant to promote motivation of persons of child bearing age to accept and sustain use of contraceptives. It was, however, abolished ceremoniously in 1999.
But Minister of Health Dr. Peter Kumpalume said personally he had no problems with the establishment of a council that would be officially proposed by the Ministry of Finance under which population and development are its mandate.
He said: “Much as the more councils we create, the higher the cost of maintaining them, there is need for better tracking of population policies and implementation.”
Parliamentary Committee on Health chairperson Juliana Lunguzi said most countries that have made strides in population growth control had functioning population councils comprising various sectors.
“If established, such a council would champion and coordinate effectively work on population and development,” she said.
Delegates to the conference made several resolutions on family planning, education, health, economic growth and governance.
On family planning, it was recommended that there must be universal access to contraception for sexually active people who need it, with focus on reaching youths with contraceptive information and services to delay onset of childbearing.
The delegates have also resolved to extensively disseminate findings of the Demographic Dividend Report, which has outlined four scenarios, including maintaining a status quo; emphasis on the economy, social investments or a combined emphasis whose characteristic is investments in economic reforms and prioritisation of family planning and education.
Demographic dividend refers to a temporary opportunity for accelerated economic growth that is facilitated by a sustained decline in birth and death rates which leads to an increase in the ratio of working age population relative to young dependents. n
