United Nations group urges "have" countries to help "have-nots"

Date: Sept. 22, 1999
Time: 4:04 pm

UNPFA reports that the world's population will officially top the 6 billion mark next month, an increase of 1 billion in just 12 years. UNPFA officials warn that while population growth has slowed, global population is still rising by about 78 million people a year.

"Most of the population growth is taking place in the world's poorest countries," Vernon Mack, chief of the resource development branch of UNPFA said at a news conference today. He urged developed countries, such as Canada, to honour a commitment made 5 years ago to donate a total of $5.7 billion toward improving reproductive education, promoting gender equality and meeting the health care needs for women around the world.

"Our challenge now is to provide reproductive health information to the billion or so people who are in their child-bearing years," added Dr. Marcelle Chevallier, program manager of UNFPA's Africa Division. "We are talking about providing resources and knowledge to help women make informed choices."

Mack conceded that convincing developed countries to ante up more money is no easy task -- the Canadian International Development Agency has had its funding cut each of the last five years -- but he stresses the developed world cannot turn its back on underdeveloped nations.

"What is happening in another part of the world does have far reaching effects and by helping the nations who need it we strengthen our global community," he said.

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