Bush Cuts To Family Planning Jeopordize Health Of Women, Men, & Children, Says ARHP; Group Opposes President's Cuts to UNFPA

2/6/2002

From: Sean C. Prichard of The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), 202-466-3825, e-mail: sprichard@arhp.org; http://www.arhp.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), an education association representing the leading health care providers, researchers, and educators, is calling attention to a potentially serious step backward by the administration that can affect health in the developing world. In his FY2002 and FY2003 budget, President Bush failed to include funds already approved and allocated for the United Nations Family Planning Fund (UNFPA), which sponsors programs that help raise health care standards in developing countries. The money originally intended for UNFPA was instead placed into an undetermined reserved account.

"UNFPA-funded programs help raise health care standards in the developing world," says Dr. Felicia Stewart, ARHP board chair and director of the Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy at the University of California San Francisco. "While giving children the chance for healthy, productive lives, these programs effectively reduce maternal death rates, abortion rates, and the incidence of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. By reducing funding to the UNFPA, President Bush is putting women, men, and children in grave danger."

UNFPA was started in 1969 to help developing countries find solutions to their population problems. The main objective of UNFPA is to assist developing countries in providing quality reproductive health and voluntary family planning services, and in formulating population policies that support sustainable development. President Bush withheld the funding after being pressured by family planning opponents in Congress, led by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.). Smith falsely accused UNFPA of supporting coercive abortion in China.

"UNFPA programs do not force women in China -- or anywhere else -- to have abortions," says Wayne C. Shields, ARHP president and CEO. "It is essential that the Bush administration look at the facts, ignore the misleading rhetoric, and do the right thing for the health of women and children around the world."

------ ARHP is multidisciplinary association composed of professionals who provide reproductive health services or education, conduct reproductive health research, or influence reproductive health policy. ARHP, founded in 1963, has a mission to educate health care professionals, public policy makers, and the public. The organization fosters research and advocacy to promote reproductive health.