From On Air - Spring 2003

Innovations

Each year, more than half a million women around the world die from pregnancy-related causes. Millions more want to avoid pregnancy but have no access to contraceptives. And tens of millions of people, especially women, have been exposed to HIV/AIDS, which might have been prevented with condoms.

These issues were addressed at a forum titled “Innovations in International Family Planning.” It was held in March at the historic Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C., and hosted by the Population Resource Center and the Coalition on Population and Development. The briefing was designed to inform congressional aides and NGO representatives about the dynamics of population growth and the value of international family planning assistance.

Nancy Thorne, vice president of the Population Resource Center, welcomed the participants, and the Honorable Anthony C. Beilenson, former congressman from Los Angeles, introduced the program.

Peggy Curlin, president of the Centre for Development and Population Activities, spoke for all international family planning organizations when she said, “It’s vital to empower women to be full partners in development. It isn’t enough to offer family planning to a woman. We have to mobilize that woman to be visible, active, and to participate in the social, economic, and cultural life of her community.”

Felicia Chase Goodman, PCI executive associate, spoke about PCI’s unique entertainment- education programs around the world. Our new video, Telling Stories, Saving Lives, was then shown to demonstrate PCI’s innovative approach to reaching millions of people with life-saving information.

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