Vidya Charan of MFPWA: “An ageing population requires a lot of investment in social services”

The Day of the African Child was celebrated on June 16 in recognition of the day when, in 1976, thousands of black school children in Soweto, South Africa, took to the streets to protest about the inferior quality of their education and to demand their right to be taught in their own language. Since then, the 16th June has been decreed as the International Day of the African Child. 

As such, in order to raise awareness about salient issues affecting our children, News on Sunday met the director of the Mauritius Family Planning Association and asked her about the status of the Mauritian Child.

The MFPWA is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. How are you celebrating the event?

The Mauritius Family Planning Welfare Association will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and it will be a very important event for the Association in particular to pay tribute to those volunteers who contributed immensely in shaping the demographic profile of the country.  The event has been discussed at the level of International Planned Parenthood Federation and there will be further discussions on the programme in June. At this stage the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life and the Interim Managing Committee of MFPWA is reviewing the present legislation to be passed in Parliament so that the Association better responds to the demographic challenges of the country. There will be awareness sessions, different meetings, media campaign on the role and contribution of MFPWA in family planning, population and development. Genuine volunteers will be recognized and awarded for their contribution at the level of MFPWA. We will start the campaign as from the 11th July 2017 on the occasion of the world population day celebrations.  However it should be noted that though we wanted to showcase through big celebrations, our means are very limited and the budget allocated by the government does not allow us for huge celebrations.

What is the current status of the Mauritian population- the number - the average yearly increase- the fear of the authorities of an ageing population?

The current trend indicates that the fertility rate has gone down to 1.3 when it should have been at 2.1. Population growth rate is at 0.1. The table below gives an indication of the population situation in the country.

Has the MFPA reached its target on population control? What is the next step?

When the fertility rate came down to 2.1 MFPWA reached its target set. At present we have to readjust the family planning and population control programme according to the needs of the country. We are advocating for population policies and programmes to be in place to sustain the demographic dividend that the country has reaped with the family planning programme in place. We have made various proposals to the government for fertility management and also for couples who can afford to be encouraged to have more children in terms of rebates on income tax, housing loan facilities, reduction in the prices of utilities for babies, review of legislation pertaining to labour laws, extension of maternity leaves and having paternity leaves as well, creation of employment for the youth, setting of day-care centres for children near workplaces. On top of that, we should have a strong family policy in place to support couples having children.

What the MFPA is suggesting to meet the challenge?

If demographic challenges are not addressed, we will experience a situation where there will be an ageing population with fewer young people to take over. Many Mauritians are leaving the country and looking for better opportunities elsewhere.  There is need for creation of jobs to keep our youth busy in the country.  Emergence of smart cities should also be properly designed in order for the old people not to be left out of the system and their vulnerability increased.  The aged prefer to live in their family settings for more comprehension, affection and care. All infrastructural development should also cater for this important chunk of population that will be aged 60 years. An ageing population requires a lot of investment in social services. Creation of homes is not sufficient.  Mauritius should also encourage active ageing as pension plans and service provision through the welfare state. The MFPWA is adapting to the changes that are taking place in the country.