Shillong, July 24: The State Level Advocacy Meeting on World Population Day 2017 with a theme “A New Wave, a New Belief/Trust. Families Prosper with Total Responsibility” organized by the National Health Mission, Meghalaya and the Directorate of Health Services (MCH & FW), Government of Meghalaya was held today at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong.
Chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Smti M. Kharkongor graced the programme as Chief Guest.
While lamenting the fact that there is a lack of proper education and awareness programmes with regards to family planning, Smti M. Kharkongor said that the rise in population demands a strong mechanism to sensitize people on the adverse effects of population explosion in relation to employment, education, health issues and others. To have a proper family planning and having happier and healthier families, the families themselves must voluntarily take up the cause, she added. She also said that female education in the rural areas holds the key in addressing the ever increasing population growth.
Mission Director, NHM, Shri H. M. Shangpliang while delivering his keynote address, stressed on the need to educate and empower people, especially the youth, on the importance of family planning through knowledge and awareness programmes. He also urged the younger generation to spread the message among themselves and also to the rural areas so that people will be made aware about family planning.
Also present on the occasion were Dr. D. Lyngdoh, Director of Health Services (MCH&FW), Dr. R. O. Budnah, Director of Health Services (MI) and students from various colleges.
World Population day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. Its main objective is to highlight the causes of population explosion and put forward remedial strategies for better and healthier lives.
The World Population Day activities in Meghalaya have been observed for over a month-long period starting with ‘Mobilization Fortnight’ from 27th June to 10th July, 2017 and ‘Population Stabilization Fortnight’ from 10th-24th July, 2017.
