Bolivia firms up plans to launch nation's first family planning effort.

In 1974 the Government of Bolivia began a national program of free family planning services in 15 public care clinics as an integrated part of its expanding maternal and child health care services which attempt to curb infant and maternal mortality and morbidity. Although the traditional view supports population growth as essential to national strength a recognition of the negative effects of a population growth that outstrips the economy and undermines health and productivity is developing. Bolivia rich in ores petroleum and potentially productive land remains the poorest country next to Haiti in the Western Hemisphere with an annual per capita income in 1970 of $180. Despite the major constraints which are expected to hinder the development of family planning services (the present inadequacy of the health care system a shortage of trained personnel special transportation and communication difficulties which are created by the complex terrain an illiteracy rate of at least 60% cultural conservatism along with the Bolivian fatalistic attitude toward childbearing disease and death and regard for children as a form of emotional and material old-age security) the National Family Center CENAFA indicates that its surveys show significant interest in family planning. His thought that there may be an immedicate favorable response to the program if services are at convenient locations and the cost is minimal. Commitments to this new national program have been received from UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities) the Pathfinder Fund and PROFAM Bolivias first nationwide family planning organization which was formed in March 1974.