 |
 Population Issues
Information
| Project
Ideas | Project
Examples
United
Nations Population Fund |
Rotarian Fellowship for Population and Development
Information
Rotarians care about the quality of life for all, from the
youngest to the oldest, and have sponsored immunization and
health programs that have helped to increase longevity. But
falling global child mortality rates and climbing lifespans
have prompted a new concern: that population growth may
outpace Earth's ability to sustain development.
In the 30 years between 1969 and 1999, the world's
population grew from 3.7 billion to 6 billion people. While
the annual rates of growth slowed from 2.4 percent to 1.3
percent over that same time span, the global population
continues to rise by about 78 million a year. United Nations
reports provide telling glimpses into population issues:
| • |
The highest population growth
rates are generally occurring in the poorest and
most environmentally fragile parts of the
world. |
| • |
The most rapid fertility declines
have occurred in developing countries which have
achieved
major improvements in child survival
rates and educational levels and have implemented
family planning programs. |
| • |
Even if fertility rates everywhere
were to fall instantly to replacement level (2.06
children per woman), the high number of youths who
are entering reproductive age ensures that world
population growth will continue for another two
generations. |
| • |
While there are more young people
than ever, there are also more older people; the
proportion of people over age 65 worldwide will
exceed 17 percent by
2020. | |
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Project Ideas
In 1999, the RI Board adopted a statement on population
growth and sustainable development, which reads in part:
"Rotary International encourages Rotary clubs and districts,
working as appropriate with government agencies,
nongovernmental organizations and local leadership, to
increase awareness and undertake even more projects that
directly impact population growth and sustainable development.
Projects would include those that promote education on the
issue of population, access to family health care, adequate
nutrition, and enable individuals to make informed and
responsible decisions about issues such as child spacing in a
way that is in keeping with their personal values and cultural
and religious considerations."
Demonstrate your commitment to population issues by
developing a project in your community. Below you'll find
several ideas for community and international projects your
club may want to consider.
| • |
Conduct or sponsor women's health
seminars in the community, focusing on
reproductive health, prenatal care, and the
benefits of delaying childbearing past adolescence
and of spacing children, if appropriate. |
| • |
Arrange transportation for
underprivileged mothers to attend health clinics
and seminars. |
| • |
Sponsor a community health fair
providing senior citizens a free blood pressure
check, eye exam, diabetes screening, and other
services. |
| • |
Develop a community-awareness
campaign aimed at warning young people about the
consequences of teenage pregnancy and sexually
transmitted diseases while promoting
self-esteem. |
| • |
Sponsor a microcredit program to
provide loans to small-business entrepreneurs,
particularly women. |
| • |
Conduct a literacy program
focusing on girls, or establish a scholarship fund
for girls that would cover the costs of school
fees, uniforms, books, and other materials. |
| • |
Develop child care programs for
preschoolers so that their older sisters would be
free from babysitting duties to attend
school. |
| • |
Invite a speaker to educate Rotary
club members about population and development from
a global
perspective. | |
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Project Examples
Promoting child spacing and women's
health
Rotary Districts 1860, Germany, and 9120,
Nigeria, helped implement child spacing in parts of Kaduna
State, Nigeria, consistent with the government's national
health policy and World Health Organization guidelines. Child
Spacing and Family Health Investigation Centers, developed by
Nigerian and German Rotary clubs and aided by The
Rotary Foundation and German government grants, educated
families about the benefits of child spacing, which has helped
reduce maternal and infant mortality. Workshops educated more
than 1,000 doctors, nurses, health care workers, and birth
attendants about screening for reproductive tract cancer and
child spacing methods. About 500,000 Nigerian women and their
families have benefited from the project, which included a
massive reproductive health awareness campaign supported by
civic and religious leaders. Three years after introduction of
the project, the United Nations Population Fund was working
with Rotary clubs to replicate the effort throughout Nigeria
and Africa.
Providing free access to integrated health
care
A free medical camp organized by the Rotaract
Club of Karachi Midtown, Pakistan, provided community
residents with tuberculosis scanning in a mobile van,
ultrasound facilities, and movies about family planning.
Fourteen doctors specializing in eye care, dermatology,
gynecology, pediatrics, and general health care contributed
their services at the camp. Several pharmaceutical companies
also donated medications. More than 1,000 patients received
examinations and treatment for various diseases and
conditions.
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United Nations Population Fund
In June 2002, the RI Board of Directors agreed to enter
into a three-year cooperative relationship with the United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). UNFPA is the world's largest
multilateral source of assistance in the areas of reproductive
health and population data collection and analysis. The Fund
works in more than 140 countries and has provided more than
US$5.6 billion to developing countries since 1969.
Rotary International has entered into a relationship with
the UNFPA to provide clubs and districts interested in
planning community service projects focused on population
issues with additional resources. Examples of the cooperation
between Rotary and UNFPA include launching HIV/AIDS awareness
campaigns in highly affected areas in India and undertaking
efforts to increase understanding of reproductive health
issues in regions of Mexico. Interested Rotary clubs are
encouraged to contact their UNFPA country representative to
work together on projects of mutual interest. Learn more about
the United
Nations Population Fund.
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Rotarian Fellowship for Population and Development
The Rotarian Fellowship for Population and Development is a
group of more than 25,000 Rotarians who have joined together
to support Rotary club projects that address population and
development issues. Learn more about the Rotarian Fellowship
for Population and Development and the resources that they
offer.
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