The sustainable and har­monious development project is being imple­mented in the country to build a Union based on democracy and federalism with peace and stability, said Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win at the ceremony to mark the 2023 World Population Day at MICC-II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-Senior General, who is in the capacity of Patron of the Central Census Commission, said that the United Nations declared that the world’s pop­ulation reached eight billion on 15 November 2022. It took just 12 years to increase from seven billion population to eight billion population. A quickly growing number of populations depended on health, nutritious foods, personal hygiene and the improvement of medicines.

Most developed countries face a declining birth rate, a shortage of labour and an in­creasing number of the aged. For the time being, least devel­oped countries are struggling to fulfil the needs of the popu­lation which is growing rapidly. Some 10 per cent of the global people are below the poverty line, earning less than US$2 per day.

The UN adopted 17 sustain­able development goals and 169 objectives, so all UN member countries agreed to complete the implementation of these visions and missions in 2030.

Myanmar emphasizes har­monious development in social economic and environmental conservation measures as well as gender equality. So, the sustainable and harmonious development project is being implemented in the country to build a Union based on democ­racy and federalism with peace and stability.

According to the census on 1 October 2022, Myanmar has more than 55.7 million popula­tion, and it is expected to reach more than 59.3 million of the population in 2030.

The centres to give com­prehensive care to those suf­fering from gender violence are opened at hospitals in Nay Pyi Taw, Pindaya, Mawlamyine, Thaton, Myitkyina and Waing­maw and more plans are un­derway to open similar cen­tres at state- and region-level hospitals.

In line with the theme for the 2023 World Population Day, Balancing the population and development, let’s strive for a better future, the country needs to effectively implement the population and development sectors.

The Vice-Senior General stressed the need to enhance the capacity of women, ensure gender equality, and carry out family planning and mother and reproductive health so as to develop a social life.

The Vice-Senior General disclosed that a plan is un­derway to enumerate a pilot project for the census in the coming October and collect the population and household data across the country from 1 to 15 October 2024. He stressed the need for all the people to par­ticipate in the process in order to build a fine future.

Union Minister for Immi­gration and Population U Myint Kyaing reported on the popula­tion growing process in Myan­mar and policy affairs.

All attendees were pre­sented with a video clip on the collection of population and household data in 2024.

The Vice-Senior General viewed round the booths of the exhibition to mark the 2023 World Population Day. — MNA/ TTA