Madagascar population to hit 50m

Antananarivo – Madagascar’s population will hit 50 million by 2030 from almost 20 million now if action is not taken to control it, says the health minister.

Rapid population growth was a key issue in the fight against poverty on the enormous Indian Ocean island, which aimed to reduce the average number of children per family to three or four from an average 5,4 in 2005. Jean Louis Robinson, the minister of health and family planning, said: “Madagascar will have 50 million inhabitants in 2030 if the country does not make any effort.”He added: “A woman must not give birth to more than three children because it is damaging for her.”He was speaking at the start of a mother and child health week – described by officials as Madagascar’s biggest ever health operation.Involving 59 000 medical staff and health workers, the programme aimed to reach more than four million mothers and children with free health services including de-worming, a measles vaccination and the distribution of mosquito nets.An official press release said: “It is expected that 50 000 more women will begin using some form of contraception by the end of the week.”Marie Francoise, a 40-year-old mother-of-six, said she did not use contraception.She said: “Many women in rural communities think contraception causes sterility.But the lack of access to these products is also a constraint.”At least 85% of the population were living on less than $2 a day in 2005, according to official data from the world’s fourth largest island and its biggest producer of vanilla.Nampa-ReutersJean Louis Robinson, the minister of health and family planning, said: “Madagascar will have 50 million inhabitants in 2030 if the country does not make any effort.”He added: “A woman must not give birth to more than three children because it is damaging for her.”He was speaking at the start of a mother and child health week – described by officials as Madagascar’s biggest ever health operation.Involving 59 000 medical staff and health workers, the programme aimed to reach more than four million mothers and children with free health services including de-worming, a measles vaccination and the distribution of mosquito nets.An official press release said: “It is expected that 50 000 more women will begin using some form of contraception by the end of the week.”Marie Francoise, a 40-year-old mother-of-six, said she did not use contraception.She said: “Many women in rural communities think contraception causes sterility.But the lack of access to these products is also a constraint.”At least 85% of the population were living on less than $2 a day in 2005, according to official data from the world’s fourth largest island and its biggest producer of vanilla.Nampa-Reuters