UNFPA IN THE NEWS – DECEMBER 6-12, 2003

GLOBAL: Worldwide Campaign to End Obstetric Fistula

Voice of America reported December 7 on a UNFPA report found that obstetric fistula, a devastating pregnancy-related disability, is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. France Donnay head of UNFPA reproductive health branch said these women become outcasts in their villages. She said the physical, psychological and social pain they suffer is unnecessary, as the fistula is a condition that can be prevented and treated surgically. "Once cured, once the operation has been performed and is successful, they can go back to their villages," said Ms. Donnay. "Often they get married again to the same husband or to another one. Sometimes, it is important for them to get to another life because it is better for them that the community would not know that they had a fistula. But, they can claim their dignity and their life again." Read: Voice of America

GLOBAL: Money that Could Go to Millions of Adolescents

The Toronto Star (Canada) ran a December 7 op ed by Tom Harpur that cited the most recent UNFPA report that found nearly half the global population now is under age 25. About 87 per cent of these young people live in the poor countries of the world. He noted: “Yet, though countless billions of dollars are spent annually on arms – the U.S. alone will spend more than $100 billion on its ill-fated war in Iraq and the aftermath – many millions of adolescents are "doomed to blighted lives" because of extreme poverty, too-early marriage and child-bearing, illiteracy, and the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. Read: Toronto Star

AFGHANISTAN: Census Preparation

Afghanistan Television reported December 9 that Deputy Head of State Hedayat Amin Arsala met Lakhdar Brahimi, special envoy of the UN secretary-general to Afghanistan, to discuss cooperation between UNFPA with the population census programs in Afghanistan. The special envoy of the UN secretary-general said that UNFPA was ready to cooperate with the (census) program. The deputy head of state said the Afghan population census was important. He added: Economic planning is impossible without an exact (population) census.

BANGLADESH: Fistula Center Opens to Treat Women

The New Nation (Bangladesh) reported December 10 that as more than 400,000 women are suffering from obstetric fistula, a devastating pregnancy related disability, in Bangladesh, the government is going to set up a modern National Obstetric Fistula Centre at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital with the assistance of Islamic Development Bank through the UNFPA. Xinhua General News Service and The Independent (Bangladesh) also reported on this story. Read: The New Nation, Daily Star, Matamat

BHUTAN: Her Queen Majesty Reinforces Family Planning Campaign

Keunsel (Bhutan) reported December 11 that UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, met with wives of the Royal Bhutan Police, the Royal Bhutan Army and the Royal Body Guards personnel in Thimphu to reinforce the ongoing population planning advocacy campaign. Read: Keunsel

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Census Underway

IRIN reported December 8 that a nationwide population census began in the Central African Republic with financial and logistic support from the European Commission, UNFPA and UNDP. Read: IRIN

CHINA: Condom Commercial Reflects Evolving Society

The U.S. magazine, Variety, reported December 7 that China's first condom commercial is the latest evidence of massive economic and social change in the world's most populous country, with its populations of 1.3 billion. "There are encouraging signs – there's no way you could have made this film even one year ago, it would have been forbidden," says Nikolaus von Wolff, the German co-director of the commercial that ran for the first time this month on CCTV-1, the main Chinese state channel. China's powerful Family Planning Ministry and Germany's state development agency CIM, as well as UNFPA sponsored Von Wolff and his Chinese counterpart Liu Zhefeng. The South China Morning Post also reported on this story. Read: The Variety (Subscription required)

GHANA: Poor Customer Service for Condoms and Contraceptives

Ghana News Agency reported December 11 that in an address read on behalf of Mr. Moses Mukasa, UNFPA Resident Representative in Ghana, he disclosed that girls aged between 10 to 19 years formed 25.8 per cent of persons living with AIDS in the country. The UNFPA Resident Representative called for a comprehensive adolescent reproductive health program to avert early marriages, childbearing and irresponsible sexual behavior. Read: Ghana News Agency

INDIA: Trafficking Brides Where There Aren’t Enough

United States’ National Public Radio ran a December 9 segment during its show, Day to Day, that noted: “It is common to view daughters as a financial burden in India, even among the educated classes. It's a belief perpetuated by the illegal but pervasive dowry system and by the traditional practice of sending sons out to earn while daughters live in their husbands' households. So many couples try to give birth to sons and avoid daughters. Abortions provides the means, according to a new study by UNFPA.” Listen to: NPR – Day to Day

JAPAN: Refusal to Embrace Sex Education Impedes Fight against HIV/AIDS

A December 7 story by Japan Times on Japan's refusal to embrace sex education in the fight against HIV/AIDS noted that the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimates that the number of confirmed HIV-positive people in Japan will rise from this year's 5,500 to about 50,000 by 2010. It all depends on whether or not young people are made aware of the risks. According to UNFPA, half of all new HIV infections in the developed world fall in the 15-24 age bracket. Read: Japan Times

JORDAN AND IRELAND: Developing Knowledge Sharing Program

AME Info (UAE) reported December 11 that Jordan was selected to develop an Arabic version of the UNFPA and Irish government’s portable Knowledge Asset Development System (pKADS), a knowledge sharing tool used to collect, distill and synthesize lessons learned in a way that would improve results and inform policy and development strategies. 'We are very pleased to be working in partnership with the University College Cork and the Government of Ireland to make UNFPA's innovative approach to knowledge sharing available to all, especially the developing countries,' said Imelda Henkin, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA. 'We see pKADS as a valuable contribution to bridging the digital divide and a way for UNFPA to help developing countries and others manage their own knowledge and attain their development goals.' Read: AME Info

MALAWI: Adolescents Face HIV/AIDS

The Chronicle (Malawi) reported December 8 that Malawi youth have to accept that they are faced with HIV/AIDS. A UNFPA report states that the majority of people contracting HIV are young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years. In the year 2001, 42 % of all new infections recorded during that years were in that age group. Read: The Chronicle

MALAWI AND NORWAY: Support for Adolescent Reproductive Health Programs

The Chronicle (Malawi) reported December 8 that the Royal Norwegian Embassy has signed an agreement with UNFPA for a grant of approximately MK1million (Norwegian Kroner 6,600) which will be used to continue support to Banja la Mtsogolo (BLM) in its program of Sexual and Reproductive Health for young people between the ages of 10 - 24 years. The agreement was signed by the Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Asbjorm Eidhammer and Dr. Sylvie Cohen of UNFPA on the 4th December, and the amount is expected to fund the program for a period of two years. Read: The Chronicle

MALDIVES: A Book that Explores Islamic Views on Family Life and Family Planning

Haveeru Daily (Maldives) reported December 8 that President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was presented with a Dhivehi copy of the book, "Family Planning in the Legacy of Islam," by the Minister of Health Ahmed Abdulla. "Family Planning in the Legacy of Islam" was written by Professor Abdel Rahim Omran and explores Islamic views on family life and family planning, clarifying its teachings and dispelling misunderstandings. The translation of thebook to the Dhivehi language was carried out by Ibrahim Rasheed Moosa and was funded by the UNFPA. At the presentation, the president noted that this book was indeed an important contribution, and thanked the UNFPA and the Department of Public Health for their efforts. Read: Haveeru Daily

PAKISTAN: Research Conference Commences

United News of Bangladesh reported December 8 that Punjab Minister for Social Welfare Syeida Sughra lmam will inaugurate "The Fourth Annual Population Research Conference: Population Research and Policy Development in Pakistan" at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The conference is being organized by the department of Rural Sociology with collaboration of Population Association of Pakistan, with funding from UNFPA and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

PHILIPPINES: Rafael M. Salas Population and Development Award Awarded to Pangasinan

Manila Bulletin (Philippines) reported December 7 that the 2003 Rafael M. Salas Population and Development provincial category award was awarded Nov. 26 to Pangasinan. The story noted that Rafael M. Salas was the first Executive Director of UNFPA.

PHILIPPINES: AIDS Awareness Targets Adolescents

ABS-CBN News (Philippines) reported December 12 that the Foundation for Adolescent Development (FAD) Inc. joined the MTV Music Summit at the FortGlobalCity on November 21. The concert was hosted by MTV Philippines for AIDS awareness. The story also noted other NGOs also participated in this event and showcased the partnership of the private sector (MTV Philippines), some UN agencies (UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA), the NGO community and the government in order to intensify the HIV/AIDS education and prevention campaign among the Filipino youth. Read: ABS-CBN News

UGANDA: Many Girls Get Married Before Age of 18

New Vision (Uganda) reported December 9 that despite the tough laws against defilement, 50% of girls in Uganda still get married before the age of 18 years, a study has revealed. Dr. Godwin Turyasungira, a lecturer at Makerere University Institute of Public Health, who presented the results of the study, said traditional, cultural and some religious norms continue to favor marrying off girls at the age of 13 years. Turyasungira was speaking during the review of the 5th Government of Uganda and United Nations Population Fund country program at the International Conference Center, Kampala recently. Read: New Vision

UGANDA: Links International Contributes to Safe Motherhood Program

The Monitor (Uganda) reported December 7 that an American charity organization, The Links International has donated $50,000 (Shs 100m) towards the safe motherhood program. The story noted First Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni, invited the group to Uganda. UNFPA country representative Mr. James Kuriah said the maternal deaths could be prevented if all African women had access to appropriate health care during pregnancy and childbirth. Kuriah decried the country's maternal mortality rate, which stands at 505 per 100,000 women.

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