The Key to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Universal Access to Family Planning and Reproductive Health

The MDGs offer precise time-bound targets for promoting global development. MDG Target 5B calls for universal access to reproductive health care. By adding this target, world leaders reaffirmed that access to reproductive health care—including family planning services and supplies—is essential to reducing poverty and advancing human well-being.
Fulfilling the global demand for family planning can significantly reduce the costs of achieving the U.N. targets, especially in maternal health and education. In Kenya alone, providing universal access to contraception could generate a $200 million net savings for the social sector in meeting the MDGs. By investing in reproductive health and family planning, countries can cost-effectively accelerate progress towards achieving the MDGs to:
1.Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2.Achieve universal primary education
3.Promote gender equality and empower women
4.Reduce child mortality
5.Improve maternal health
6.Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7.Ensure environmental sustainability, and
8.Develop a global partnership for development