International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

A government official in South Africa has insisted policymakers are committed to family planning.

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the health minister, was quoted by Health-e as saying the issue is critical in improving both maternal and newborn health in the country.

As a result, the government wants to put a family planning programme in place, which it believes could help to save the lives of many mothers and infants.

Dr Motsoaledi also argued taking action on the issue would boost the South African economy and put it on track to meet Millennium Development Goals four and five.

Indeed, he said that without proper family planning facilities being put in place, it could be "very difficult" to achieve these targets.

Dr Motsoaledi added that both child and maternal mortality rates are heading upwards in South Africa, which he said is unacceptable for a country at "this level of development".

"We need to do everything in our power to reduce this," he said.

Posted by David Smith