Donors urged to help reproductive health groups

Countries have been urged to continue to give generously to groups working to improve reproductive health around the world.

This is despite the global economic downturn leading many individuals and organisations to cut back on what they offer to charity.

Dr Sharon Camp, president and chief executive of the Guttmacher Institute, has suggested that now is the perfect time to increase the effort to stop reproductive health problems.

While in New Zealand briefing groups including Family Planning International, she stated: "Each year, modern contraceptives help prevent 215,000 pregnancy related deaths, 2.7 million infant deaths and the loss of 60 million years of healthy life.

"In a time of global financial difficulty, donor countries may be tempted to avoid fulfilling their financial commitments. That would be a grave error."

She went on to say that the programmes are highly cost effective and can result in future gains.

The Guttmacher Institue has worked on sexual and reproductive health issues for more than 40 years.

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