Sunday, October 23, 2011

1 in 7

In October 1999, I was living in Angers, France. I was halfway through a rich study abroad program, spending my weeks mastering French literature and perfecting my French grammar while on the weekends I was jubilantly traveling around Europe hand in hand with my Eurail pass. Also in October 1999, the world’s population reached 6 billion.

Sometime in the next week, the world’s population will arrive at another milestone – 7 billion people. In just 12 years, another billion people have been added to our planet. As people continue to live longer and fertility rates are still quite high in many parts of the world, we are on track to continue this remarkable growth. But can we handle it? Can our environment handle it? Will there be enough food and water for billions more people when currently wells are drying up and famines are haunting thousands? Are there enough natural resources for another couple of billion people? What about people living in poverty, how can population growth possibly help alleviate those already struggling?

I cannot help but think about the importance of family planning when discussing demographics. Family planning has long been linked with aiming to reduce population growth, ease poverty, and address health and education inequities. Bolstered by the landmark 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, the international health community also recognized that family planning programs must include the reproductive and sexual needs and rights of individuals. However, despite the enthusiasm of the ICPD, family planning strengthening efforts and funding for family planning programs have dropped on the lists of international development priorities.

I have a feeling some momentum will soon return to the family planning champions. Not only because of the growing population but also because in late November, the second International Family Planning Conference will take place in Dakar, Senegal. The 2011 conference will bring together participants to share research, best practices, and progress on national strategies to deliver family planning services, with the ultimate goal being universal access to family planning.

I found out this week that I will not be able to attend this conference. To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Not only did I want to present data from my Masters Paper (which was accepted by conference organizers), but also I wanted to participate in those rich discussions that so often occur in hallways or at cafes during international conferences. I am particularly interested in family planning gains in West Africa and what is being done to mitigate unmet need and demand for modern family planning methods. Too, I am keen to learn more about how the global health community envisions just how it will help developing countries meet family planning goals in light of severe shortages of health professionals. There have been so many gains through engaging community health workers – I want to learn more about how are we training these front line health workers to provide quality care and also, what is being done to provide quality family planning education for future health professionals in medical and nursing schools?

Despite my disappointment in not being able to attend the November conference, I do not have to be in Senegal to contribute to global family planning efforts. In fact, one of my activities at work these days is creating an innovative online refresher family planning course for faculty at a rural, private nursing school in Mali – in French. It’s a good thing that 12 years ago as the world’s population growth was setting records, I was studying French in Angers!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Va Ca Tion

va·ca·tion

–noun
1.
a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity,usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess orholiday: Schoolchildren are on vacation now.
2.
a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normalactivities of law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.
3.
freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.
4.
an act or instance of vacating.

For the first time ever, I did not check work email while on vacation! Here is what I was doing instead...


Observing gorgeous sunsets over the Adirondacks!
Going on covered bridge hunts all over Vermont!

Indulging in all of the in-season treats like apples!

Noting very weird things like a mushroom growing out of a tree in Woodstock, Vt!


Taking in the sites and lovely weather in Montreal!