PMNCH Members mark 7 billion inhabitants
NOVEMBER 2011 – Dozens of PMNCH members have marked a new population landmark as it is estimated that since 31 October, 7 billion people now inhabit the world. The United Nations Population Organization - UNFPA - marked the date with its State of the World Population Report and the launch of the 7 Billion campaign; The World Bank is profiling baby Maya in a campaign to highlight health systems; and Britain’s development Agency is doing the same.
UNFPA
31 OCTOBER 2011 - As of 31 October 2011, seven billion people will inhabit the earth. The 2011 UNFPA State of World Population report, People and Possibilities in a World of 7 Billion, looks at the dynamics behind the numbers, explaining trends which define our world of 7 billion, and documents actions that people worldwide are taking in their own communities to make the most of their--and our--world. UNFPA has also launched the 7 Billion Campaign to highlight these actions through interactive online media.
World Bank’s Baby Maya
What does it take for a baby to be born healthy and thrive? Please take 2 minutes to watch our new video on You Tube or on our refreshed website at www.worldbank.org/health and find out. At the World Bank, strengthening health systems is at the center of the Bank’s global strategy for health, nutrition, and population (HNP). The video hopes to begin to demystify the concept of a health system so that anyone interested in global health and development can understand why it is so important. The video is available in English, French, and Spanish.
Building on the HNP team's recent release of a video, "Health Systems Create Healthy Futures," we've just launched a Facebook page for the video's lead character, Maya. We're branding Maya as the Bank's virtual "baby 7 billion," and asking web users to follow her as she grows from infancy to adulthood, navigating the health and development challenges affecting children born in low-income countries. "Maya" will be regularly posting messages in English, French and Spanish. Please visit the page and "like" Maya.
Newborn Lives: Celebrating 7 billion people
Linked with support for family planning & women’s empowerment, a reduction in newborn and child mortality will lead to lower rates of fertility and population growth. In the latest blog, Kate Kerber explains why improving newborn survival won't accelerate population growth.
DfID - UK: Changing women's lives through family planning - and the world at 7 bilion
On 31 October 2011, global population will pass the 7 billion mark - more than double the number of people who were alive 50 years ago. Most of this growth is taking place in the world’s poorest countries. This will add to the pressures that their governments face to provide basic services like health and education for their people. The lack of choice women and girls have over family planning is a major cause of poverty and contributes to rapid population growth. Over the next four years, British aid is changing lives by making it possible for at least 10 million more women to use modern methods of family planning so that they can decide for themselves whether, when and how many children to have.
Find links to pictures, videos, stories, a 7 billion podcast and a full feature on your right.