Kenya's medical practitioners attend forum in Malaysia

By NJERI RUGENE Nrugene@ke.nationmedia.com in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Posted  Monday, May 27  2013 at  10:00

Kenya's medical practitioners are among 3,000 guests attending an international conference on girls and women's health and human rights issues in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Women Deliver 2013, which brings together leaders and women rights advocates from more than 150 countries will be officially opened by Malaysia's Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak on Tuesday.

Institutions such as the World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO) are expected to release their new findings on how to improve voluntary family planning services within the next seven years.

The conference also hopes to make a resolution on how to place the needs of women and girls at the centre of the 2015 millennium development agenda.

"Women Deliver 2013 will be an opportunity to keep up the pressure and to affirm our plans for the period ahead," said UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon.

The conference which is scheduled for three days will have at least 100 sessions and it comes a few days before the UN boss receives recommendations for the post 2015 development framework.

Key notes speakers including the United Nation's Population Fund executive director Babatunde Osotimehin, Melinda Gates of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ms Chelsea Clinton of the Clinton Foundation and Cecile Richards President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America are expected to push for action to have issues affecting both girls and women addressed.

Also, Kenya will also be among African states that will be recognised for efforts to ensure citizens access family planning services.

Kenya has been praised for developing a new and comprehensive Population Policy for National Development that was approved by Parliament last December.