13 activists to run Mumbai Marathon 2017 with message of Family Planning

India’s leading health champions to run SCMM 2017 with strong Family Planning message 
FPA India brings 13 national experts to raise funds and focus on women’s sexual and reproductive rights with ‘Run4FP’ 
by Shrutee K/DNS
Mumbai: The biggest sporting event of Asia – the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2017, which takes place on Jan 15, will be not just about running. For the first time ever, India’s best-known sex and reproductive health experts are coming to the city to jointly propagate the message of Family Planning (FP) through a unique initiative ‘Run4FP.’
Brainchild of by India’s leading reproductive and sexual health organisation  Family Planning Association of India (FPA India) – ‘Run4FP’ will see 13 top notch professionals running the dream run with a clear message – FP needs to be a mainstream narrative and is high time it is de-stigmatised.  In a significant move, FPA India is bringing back the focus on FP as a rights issue – where women as well as youth have access to safe FP services and women’s right to make a choice on how many children she wants and when.  
Thirteen of India’s best-known names in sexual and reproductive health sector will be part of ‘Run4FP’. They are Amita Dhanu, FPA India, Anand Sinha, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation (India)Denny John, International Center for Research on Women's (ICRW) Asia Regional Office, Dr Kalpana Apte, FPA IndiaDr Nina Puri, FPA India, Dr Nisha Gupta, Public Health Consultant, Poonam Karla,  Tulika Foundation (media firm)Poonam Muttreja, Population Foundation of India (PFI)Sharad Aggarwal, Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (India)Sujatha Natarajan, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)Tom Alter, Actor, Umesh Aradhya, FPA India and Varun Anand, International Planned Parenthood Federation, South Asia Region (IPPF-SAR)
Even as India’s 1.3 billion population is looked upon as a demographic dividend, the health scenario continues to be alarming. 30.2 % of all married women (or 10.3 crore girls) were married before they turned 18 (Census 2011). They also face extreme pressure to have a baby immediately after marriage. Coincidentally, India also houses almost 17.3% of the world’s protected couples and 20% of world’s eligible couples with unmet need. Therefore, large population size of India not only impacts its own but also the global health indicators. India has adopted ‘Vision FP 2020’ through which an additional 48 million women (from existing 100 million) would be provided contraceptives and stop one million infant deaths, 42,000 maternal deaths and whopping 23.9 million child births by 2020.
“It is a great privilege to participate in the first Run4FP. I truly believe that FP saves lives in countless ways and protects the health of women and child. We, at FPA India, believe that FP is one area in nation building,” said Umesh Aradhya, President, FPA India.
Stating that even in changing society the subject of FP is relegated to a corner, Dr Kalpana Apte, Secretary General, FPA India, stated that we need to understand that contraception usage of choice is an essential part of daily life. “Empowerment of women is not only about education and economic well-being. Her sexual and reproductive rights empower her to make her own choices and it is high time we speak about it.” Dr Apte hailed the recent announcement of the Centre of allotting Rs 6,000 for poor women during pregnancies. “It could help them in immunisation, nutrition, transport. However, every survey, including National Family Health Survey 4 has shown Indian women’s desire not to have more than two kids. How can we support them in their right of choice? It is time to address this issue,” she explained.
With the industry veterans running with a strong message and raise funds for FP.  “When you support FP, it’s not just about population, but you’re helping save the lives of tens of thousands of women in India annually. FP allows couples to take decisions about their future and gives women the option of exploring their full potential. It’s all about nurturing love and relationships,” stated Anand Sinha, Country Advisor, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, who is running SCMM 2017.
Study shows every $1(67) invested in FP saves $4 (268) in other health and development areas. “India being the second populous country in the world and with highest number of women with unmet need for FP has all reasons to make required investment to meet this ambitious goal. I believe private sector has a major stake in advancing this effort. I strongly advocate for right based quality FP services for all. I’m running for healthier family and a more prosperous world - Stand up and support more investment for quality FP,” explained Varun Anand, Director Finance and IT, International Planned Parenthood Federation, South Asia Region (IPPF-SAR).
India has too many, too close and too early child births. 59.3 % of births (approx. 16 million births) have birth interval of less than 36 months. 24% (approx. 6.5 million births) are 3rd or more order births. 6.3% of births (approx. 1.7 million lakh births) are in the age group 15-19 years. One out of every five married women in India wants to adopt family planning, but is unable to do so due to inaccessibility, ignorance and myths (DLHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare). 
Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India (PFI) felt that to reduce maternal and infant mortality, morbidity and to improve women’s health and wellbeing, it is time the Centre seriously looks towards increasing contraceptive choices for men and women by introducing more modern spacing methods as well as substantially increasing the budgets for FP in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. “Health education in schools for the young and adolescent is key. The need for effective FP has never been greater than it is today, as the largest group of people in Indian history move through their reproductive years,” she explained.
V S Chandrashekar, CEO, Foundation for Reproductive Health Services (India), expressed disappointment women’s reproductive health and rights, FP and safe abortions rarely get attention in public life and in media. “FP is intimately connected with various aspects of development - economic growth environmentfood securityeducation and overall poverty reductionI think SCMM 2017 offers a great platform to highlight this important but often neglected issue.”
About FPA India: FPA India works in 18 states of India, helping people to achieve their Sexual and Reproductive Rights. They work primarily with the most poor and vulnerable people, reaching out to over 3 million people annually. They have seen lives blooming and developing positively with simple interventions like access to contraceptive methods, fertility advice and counselling. 

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