GABORONE - Maternal deaths have declined from over 300 per 100 000 live births in the early 1970s to the current estimate of 140, says the acting deputy secretary for Socio Economic policy Mr Monnanyana Bingana.

He said that although the number was still high, it was pleasing that such an achievement was made. He was speaking at an occasion to mark the World Population Day commemorations on Friday.

Mr Bingana said that prevalence of contraception has increased significantly over the years from 16 percent in 1984 before stagnating at the current 44 percent since 1996.

He further said that fertility has declined over the years from an estimated 6.5 children per woman of reproductive age in 1971 to only 3.3 in 2001.

He stated that these achievements were largely due to Botswanas robust maternal and child health and family planning programme.

Mr Bingana further said that there were reported cases of people not accessing family planning services due to unavailability of commodities.

He stated that access and use of family planning is a basic human right that should be enjoyed by all within the reproduction ages.

He said that family planning programmes world over have initially targeted women and inadvertently left out men. He said as a result, this has given men the false impression that family planning is a womens business.

With the advent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the only method that has been successfully marketed to men is the male condom, he said. When giving her speech, the Director of Public Health Ms Shenaaz Halabi said sexual and reproductive health policy guidelines and service standards for service providers have been developed, disseminated and distributed to all health facilities to facilitate access to and adoption of contraception without restrictions to age, parity and marital status. BOPA