Studies in Family Planning is pleased to announce a new article type to be included in the journal beginning in 2017: Data Papers.

At the recent Girls Summit DC, Keeping Our Promises to Adolescent Girls, global leaders and advocates discussed how current programs and policies affect the lives of adolescent girls around the world and called on the global community to build on efforts to expand programming that improves girls’ lives.

The Population Council is proud to welcome Niranjan Saggurti as the country director of its office in India. Saggurti has more than 20 years of experience working on HIV prevention, care and treatment; sexual and reproductive health evidence and programs; and young people’s health and development.

As we commemorate World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7, 2016), let’s take a moment to recognize the importance of breastfeeding for mothers, babies and families around the world.  Breastfeeding contributes greatly to early childhood development with many short- and long term nutritional benefits for infants and children.  It also benefits the mothers, providing stronger protection against certain cancers and other health risks. It also helps to delay additional pregnancies acting as an effective contraceptive in the first six months.

On July 11, Family Planning 2020 marked the midpoint of the global partnership started at the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning to drive progress on meeting the needs of millions of women and girls around the world.

Yesterday, the Population Council recognized Dr. Armando Ahued, the Minister of Health of Mexico City, as a leader and champion for universal health care access for all. Dr. Ahued and his colleagues recently launched a new project called, El Médico en Tu Casa (doctor in your home) to offer medical services to those who do not traditionally visit medical centers on their own. The aim of the project is to remove inequalities and focus on the goal of achieving quality care to all in Mexico and beyond. The Population Councils thanks Dr. Ahued for his continued efforts to make these goals a reality. 

The Population Council grieves the passing of Dr. Harold A. Nash,  a former Council staff member and innovator in the field of contraceptive research and development. He died on Friday, April 22 at the age of 97.

The Population Council mourns the passing of Daniel Randolph Mishell, Jr., MD, a pioneer in the field of obstetrics and gynecology and a longtime advisor and friend to the Population Council. Mishell died peacefully on Wednesday, May 4 at the age of 84.     

The Ending Eclampsia project's website endingeclampsia.org, which launched this week, is just one way the project is enhancing access to, and proper use of, antihypertensives and magnesium sulfate for women with, or at risk of, developing pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E). Complete with a Discussion Forum, Webinars, Global Coalition signup, and a Resources section that addresses the policy, health systems, and community bottlenecks and outlines opportunities, the website is a one-stop-shop for anyone focusing on reducing preventable deaths related to PE/E.

It is no secret that women and girls have far less access to the quality health services they need.  The denial of their reproductive and maternal health rights can lead to maternal death and illness, unintended pregnancy, and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.