Last July, London hosted the historic 2012 London Summit on Family Planning, which reestablished family planning as a top global health priority. Last week 3000 advocates, researchers, health professionals and political leaders from over 100 countries came to Addis Ababa for the third International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP). The theme was “Full Access, Full Choice”.
Ethiopia was chosen to host this important event in recognition of the country’s strong commitment to family planning. Family planning access here increased from 14.7% in 2005 to 29% in 2010. Ethiopia’s exemplary and cost-effective health extension programme works through community “health extension workers” to expand access to healthcare in rural areas and through strong partnership with local and international partners.
At the ICFP, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) announced a £27 million commitment (£1 = 30 Birr) over five years to help civil society organisations (CSOs) ensure that family planning promises on contraceptive access etc. are delivered. It means that since the London Summit more than 70 countries, donors and CSOs have collectively pledged to extend voluntary access to family planning to an additional 120 million women and girls in the poorest countries by 2020.
A great outcome. CHOICE at the individual level and ACCESS to the chosen method of family planning is difficult to deliver. It means taking into account a complex mix of health, empowerment, human and democratic rights. But congratulations to Ethiopia for facilitating this significant step forward.