As the world population is reaching 8 billion, some of us will be happy to see the advancements in health that have improved the life spans, reduced maternal mortality and given rise to developments of various vaccines. While some others may Others will publicize technological innovations that have eased our lives and connected us more than ever.

On the flip side, many women across the globe are still dying in childbirth. The gender gaps still remains. The digital divide leaves more women and those in developing countries offline. Many vaccines though developed still remain unused or remains unevenly distributed. Many people are displaced and violence and crime, terror attacks across remain unabated.

Engineering population numbers has only served to challenge human rights. Many women are forced to have more or fewer children against their will or because they don’t have access to the information and services to help them make that decision.

While the populations of a growing number of countries are ageing and about 60 per cent of the world’s population live in countries with below-replacement fertility of 2.1 children per woman, other countries have huge youth populations and keep growing apace. ( source: United Nations Population Fund)

What needs to be the focus?

Should it be on people or population?

Reducing people to numbers strips them of their humanity.

Can we make the systems work for the numbers Instead of making the numbers work for systems?

Can we promote health and wellbeing of people? ( awareness in this area has already been created and many organisations/NGO’s are working towards this already but this may not be enough)

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “Even though the pace of global population growth will continue to decline in the coming decades, the world population is likely to be between 20 and 30 per cent larger in 2050 than in 2020.

Having accurate estimates of population trends and reliable forecasts of future changes, including for the size of populations and their distributions by age, sex and geographical location, is required for policy formulation and implementation and as a guide to assist countries in following a path towards sustainable development.”

Falling fertility?

If, for example, fertility is falling, is it because prospective parents worry about how they will provide for a family, find affordable living space or how going on maternity leave might hamper a mother’s career trajectory?

Rising fertility?

If fertility is rising, is it by choice or because women don’t have knowledge of or access to modern contraception?

8 billion people means 8 billion opportunities

Ideally 8 billion people means 8 billion opportunities for healthier societies empowered by rights and choices.

Are the playing field even?

Based on gender, ethnicity, class, religion, sexual orientation, disability and origin, among other factors, too many are still exposed to discrimination, harassment and violence. We do ourselves no favors when neglecting those left behind.

May we focus on investing in human and physical capital for inclusive, productive societies that uphold human and reproductive rights?

Only then we may be able to tackle the enormous challenges facing our planet and forge a world where health, dignity and education are rights and realities, not privileges and empty promises.

In a world of 8 billion, there must always be space for possibility, opportunities. Every individual is creative and capable to think beyond....

And what about the animal population?

May we also give them a chance to live and enjoy life along with us?

Source: United Nations Population Fund