‘Children by choice and not by chance’ is the mission statement made by Marie Stopes PNG in line with the World Contraceptive Day that is set to take place this Sunday.
This announcement was made yesterday during a press conference organised by Marie Stopes.
Marie Stopes Country Director, Dr. David Ayres, said that the purpose for the celebrations is to raise awareness about the World Contraceptive Day and the importance of contraception aimed to help youths, men and women of reproductive age.
Ayres stressed that these people have the right to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
“We are working towards empowering people to have children by choice and not by chance.”
“This means people have the power to choose when they have children, the power to choose how many children they want to have and the power to choose how far apart those children will be.”
“The reality in PNG is that a large number of pregnancies are unplanned with approximately 25% unwanted pregnancies.”
Ayres said that a large number of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies end in abortion which is a reality in PNG and around the world.
“Women and girls living in a country such as PNG where abortion practices are restricted, often resort to unsafe abortions.”
“We also know that unplanned and unwanted pregnancies result in higher child mortality and high maternal mortality.”
Ayres said that Marie Stopes is striving towards avoiding unwanted and unplanned pregnancies and to do that, contraception is the key.
According to Ayres, World Contraceptive Day is important for many other reasons.
He said that regardless of what stage of life you are at, contraception is appropriate.
“Contraception is also important for married women who still want children because this helps space their pregnancies.”
“Men are also entitled in using contraception as well in terms of using a condom or having a vasectomy for those who don’t want to have any more children.”
Mr Ayres also encouraged all parents to educate their children about contraception at an early age and further added that contraception is for anyone despite of age.
The family planning organization which operates in thirty-seven countries around the world, hopes to help more people in educating them about contraception so that every pregnancy can be made by choice.