Integrating Family Planning/Reproductive Health and Environmental Conservation Policies and Programmes in East Africa

Abstract

This report presents and summarizes the presentations and discussions that took place during the symposium entitled “Population Health and Environment: “Integrating Family Planning/Reproductive health and Environmental Conservation Policies and Programming in East Africa” which was held in Kigali Rwanda on the 29th of March 2013. The Symposium brought together local dignitaries (including the Rwandan Prime Minister and Minister of Health), politicians and senior officers from the Ministries of Health, scientists, students and researchers. The aim of gathering was to create awareness and increase interest in PHE among the policy makers in the EAC, to serve as a communication mechanism for sharing lessons learned and best practices on PHE, to enhance communication among different stakeholders working to achieve PHE objectives in East Africa, to increase stakeholder knowledge and interest in PHE linkages at the national and regional levels, to strengthen the PHE Eastern Africa regional platform and to disseminate PHE research and data. A diverse number of experts made presentations capturing key PHE issues including linkages between population dynamics, climate change and sustainable development, the demographic dividend, PHE experiences and challenges and establishment of PHE networks which are summarized in this report and its annexes (PowerPoint presentations). During the symposium PHE knowledge products were disseminated to the participants and this was followed by presentations discussing PHE issues such as: The demographic dividend and its implications on sustainable development more precisely the possibility of Africa taking advantage of its population characteristics as an asset for development. 􀀹 Experiences, achievements, success stories and lessons learnt by the various PHE institutions. For example the remarkable rise in family planning utilization in the LVB region accomplished by the HOPE LVB Project and the proven advantages of PHE initiatives in Ethiopia in comparison with non PHE initiatives with regards to Family Planning, environmental conservation and income generating activities