Philippines claims symbolic 7 billionth baby

Oct 31, 2011, 7:27 GMT

Manila - The Philippines on Monday claimed a newborn as the world's symbolic 7 billionth person, as the country struggles to contain its runaway population growth.

The 2.5-kilogram baby girl named Danica was born two minutes before midnight Sunday in a state-run maternity hospital in Manila.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona and United Nations Population Fund country representative Ugochi Daniels led well-wishers in welcoming Danica at the Jose Fabella Memorial Medical Center.

'We just welcomed the 7 billionth human being,' Ona said. The birth was a reminder of the right of every person born in the Philippines and elsewhere to have 'all the opportunities' to fulfill their potential, he said.

Ona and Daniels gave Danica a chocolate cake that said '7B Philippines.'

Daniels said the event to welcome the symbolic 7 billionth baby was 'a call for action for everyone that we're now 7 billion in the world and we have responsibilities.'

'It's not about counting people, but it's about making people count, ensuring that they have access to education, access to health and to employment,' she added.

The predominantly Catholic Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country with 94.9 million people and growing at more than 2 per cent annually.

Government efforts to curb the galloping population growth have been frustrated by the influential Catholic Church, which opposes all forms of artificial birth control.

Lawmakers are debating a controversial bill that would promote the use of contraception and mandate local governments to provide money for such programmes.