Mawkyrwat: The office of the District Medical & Health Officer, South West Khasi Hills on Wednesday observed the World Population Fortnight on the theme ‘New waves, new beliefs, plan your home with great responsibility’ at Community Health Centre (CHC), Mawkyrwat. DC R. Lyngdoh attended the programme as chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, Lyngdoh said that India has a population of about 1.3 billion and this exponential population growth has led to over exploitation of the land for food and fuel.
While stating that population explosion has an adverse impact on environmental degradation, malnutrition and child mortality rates, Lyngdoh said that it is very important for the people to understand the value of ‘small family as happy family’ because big family will results in rising demands for food, clothing, education, healthcare and other basic requirements which in some cases will not be met and maintained adequately.
Meanwhile, the District Medical & Health Officer, M. Marbaniang, said that the programme was organised with the objective of reducing the birth rate to the extent which is necessary to stabilise population in consistence with the requirement of the national economy.
Marbaniang also urged the general public to avail the facilities of maternal health, child health & population control and stabilisation, which are the main components of the programme.
