Reproductive Health and Family Planning Programme in Sri Lanka

The paper begins with a historical overview of reproductive health and family planning activities in Sri Lanka. It then describes the programme activities in different time phases, a) Launching phase 1965-1975; b) Progressive phase 1975-1985; c) Maturity phase 1985-1994; d) The Post-ICPD phase. The paper concludes by outlining the following challenges that need to be addressed in the future: • Identify vulnerable groups in geographic pockets for focused attention in reproductive health activities. • Give priority to the improvement of logistic management and commodity security of contraceptives and drugs and the availability of equipment. • Reduce septic abortions which account for about 12 percent of maternal deaths. • Provide information and education of the need for, adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation and the importance of birth spacing. • Develop age appropriate behavior change communication approaches to influence the behavior patterns of adolescents. • Promote equal participation of men and women in parenting and family care. • Strengthen the administration of justice and effective law enforcement for progress on gender equality and zero tolerance for violence against women in the family and the community. • Strengthen the database used for population and reproductive health planning at national and sub-national levels by improving quality and timely reporting of data. • Advocate the importance of informed choice in the use of family planning services. • Advocate through government agencies and women’s organizations higher representation of women in governance and decision making positions. • Undertake research to ascertain the causes of the widening gap between male and female life expectancy at birth. • Incorporate population and development concerns into national development planning with focus on poverty alleviation. **Note: The Author was invited by ICOMP and the UNFPA as a National Expert to write the paper.** http://site.icomp.org.my/clients/icomp/Downloads/FP_in_Asia_and_the_Pacific827201222526PM.pdf **Excerpts from a speech made by Ms. Lubna Baqi, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Sri Lanka at the seminar to mark World Population Day, 2006 held on 21st July, 2006 in Colombo: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank one of our key partners in the population field - namely the Population Division of the Ministry of Health, which has been led most effectively by Dr.A.T.P.L.Abeykoon. As Dr. Abeykoon is to retire shortly, I must take this opportunity to say that it will be very difficult to envisage a Population Division without Dr. Abeykoon. I take this opportunity Dr. Abeykoon, on behalf of UNFPA to thank you most sincerely for the support and the partnership you have extended to us during your tenure. You have taken the vision and principles of the International Conference on Population and Development and translated this vision into a national agenda - one that responds to local needs and priorities. Your contributions and expertise are well acknowledged, both in Sri Lanka as well as outside the county. Certainly, you have come across many UNFPA colleagues over the years and they all hold you in high regard. While we will miss you very much in your capacity as the Director of the Population Division, we would like to wish you much success in your future endeavors. And we hope that you will keep in close contact with us and continue to provide us with your guidance. Thank you once again Dr. Abeykoon, for your contribution to the Population Programme in Sri Lanka and the co-operation extended to the UNFPA in Sri Lanka"**