On 25th April, Dr. Paul Van Look, Director, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, WHO Geneva, addressed the 20th Regular Reproductive Health and Rights Study Session for parliamentarians on the topic of "Women's health in 2006: a tale of two worlds."

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The burden of poor RH on world health

Dr. Van Look highlighted the difficulties that women in developing countries face, such as sex selection before birth, female infanticide, female genital mutilation (FGM), HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, and cervical cancer. He explained that many maternal deaths were easily preventable, and that FGM, for example not only had a terrible impact on the woman, it also negatively impacted the health of her babies.

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Causes of maternal death - most of which are preventable

He spoke about the need for more contraception, and went on to explain how more research was needed to improve SRH programs. Dr. Van Look said that he envisaged Tokyo as a center of excellence (CoE), and he requested the parliamentarians to advocate for this so that, for example, governments and policy makers in developing countries could be educated to prevent FGM, male sex selection, etc.

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WHO's strategic approach to RH challenges

Dr. Van Look (second right) with MPs
and others at the Study Session