By Michelle Steven – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The Department of National Planning and Monitoring, and the National Department of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Funds for Population Activities recently launched the State of the World Population 2019 report.
This global reports main focus is on population and development themes.
It also shows the challenges women have faced in exercising their reproductive rights.
The combined actions of civil society, governments, development institutions and United Nations Funds for Population Activities over the past 50 years have unlocked opportunities and possibilities for women, men, boys and girls across the globe.
UNAIDS Country Director, David Briger, says the theme, ‘Unfinished Business: the pursuit of rights and choices for all’ is central to the global agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals and overall United Nations assistance to PNG.
Papua New Guinea, as a member state of the United Nations and a devoted advocate of the International Conference of Population and Development, has integrated population and development as a high priority development goal of the Government.
Briger says these calls for a greater reflection on the many ways in which population dynamics matter to the planets future and especially for Papua New Guinea.
The Department of National Planning and Monitoring Acting Secretary, Koney Samuel says it was fitting to give the government perspective on demographic issues in the overall contracts of the Medium Term Development Plan 111.
Samuel says in the last five years the government has made significant investments in the health and education sector to address social issues.
In the Medium Term Development Plan, the government’s intention is to promote an inclusive and sustainable economic growth path for Papua New Guinea.
