During the London summit on Family Planning on Wednesday, Melinda Gates pledged $560 million as part of a campaign to expand access to contraception for women in some of the poorest countries in the world.This was alongside pledges totaling $4.3 billion from the British government and leaders from African nations tackling with the challenges associated with high rates of unplanned pregnancy.A program to extend family planning services to 120 million women out of an estimated 220 million around the world who want, but cannot get, reliable access to contraception by 2020, was launched during the summit.According to Ban Kimoon, the UN Secretary General’s message on World Population Day,” We must mainstream reproductive health and rights into all development and poverty reduction plans. Investing in universal access to reproductive health is a crucial investment in healthy societies and a more sustainable future.” In a recent Interview with Rwanda’s Health Minister, Agnes Binagwaho, she said that once Family planning needs are met, it will make it easier to meet the Millennium Development goals of MDG 4 and 5. She added that Family planning is one of the most effectual methods for improving maternal and child health. Child mortality rate will reduce and maternal health will also improve.
