Families in Papua New Guinea
could soon be advised to have no more than three children,
Prime Minister James Marape says.
He said the
government would introduce a National Family Planning Policy
designed to lower PNG’s high birth rate by encouraging
families to stick to a maximum of three
children.
Marape said the policy aims to curb
uncontrolled demographic expansion, prevent unplanned
pregnancies and reduce economic burdens on rural
households.
PNG’s National Statistics Office said the
country’s total population has reached 10.18 million people,
with an average annual population growth rate of 2.6
percent.
The government said that the growth of more
than 180,000 people annually placed critical strain on
infrastructure, schools and health services.
The
policy was announced by Marape as he visited the maternity
wing at the newly-opened Pomio district hospital, the Dr
Kaven Memorial Hospital, at Palmalmal Station in East New
Britain Province.
“This is to ensure that there is
prevention of unplanned pregnancies and births, and families
will be encouraged to have no more than three children,”
Marape said of the new policy.
According to him,
managing the birth rate is essential for generating a
long-term positive economic impact for families and
protecting the wellbeing of mothers throughout the
country.
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