UNFPA IN THE NEWS – NOVEMBER 20-DECEMBER 3, 2004

WORLD AIDS DAY: “WOMEN, GIRLS, AND HIV AND AIDS”

Worldwide: Agence France-Presse reported November 29 that women are vulnerable to contract HIV/AIDS in many poor countries where males are favored over women. The story noted that women suffer unequal access to education and medical care, which thus places them at risk. "Women are suffering multiple vulnerabilities," says Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund. Read: Agence France-Presse

A December 1 story by UN News Centre reported that UNFPA’s Obaid, called for such "life-saving tools" as female condoms and microbicides. “Women and girls know less than men about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted, and what little they do know is often rendered useless by the discrimination and violence they face," she said. Read: UN News Centre

UN News Centre also reported November 30 ahead of World AIDS Day that Roxanne Bazergan, HIV/AIDS Policy Adviser in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said that she works with experts deployed in the field to reduce the risk of peacekeepers either contracting or spreading HIV. Awareness-raising activities, condom distribution and related medical services also benefit nearby communities. Bazergan mentioned that to maximize the effectiveness of her agency’s efforts, its advisors work with their partners at UNFPA, UNIFEM and UNAIDS. Read: UN News Centre

Bhutan: Keunsel (Bhutan) reported December 1 that UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, Her Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, said that Bhutan was experiencing an alarming spread of HIV/AIDS over the recent years despite general awareness. Speaking on the occasion of World AIDS Day in Trongsa, Her Majesty pointed out that though most of the infected were men there was an increasing concern over the rapid increase of infected women and children. Read: Keunsel

Botswana: The Daily News (Botswana) reported December 1 that at the Dzalobana Bosele Arts Festival, Ministry of Education principal officer Seabelo Sesanyane urged primary school students to refrain from engaging in sexual activities because they were still too young to do so. At the festival, UNFPA country representative Agathe Lawson, said, "It is very easy to get HIV/AIDS and it is very easy not to get it." Read: Daily News

Canada: The Canadian Press reported December 1 that on World AIDS Day, Canada announced $105 million in new funding for programs directed at women. The announcement was made by International Co-operation Minister Aileen Carroll, who heads the Canadian International Development Agency. Carroll also announced $67.4 million (over four years) in new funding for the United Nations Population Fund. Of that figure, $58.4 million will go towards the group's work in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS among women and girls. The remaining $9 million for the population fund will be aimed at improving the distribution of reproductive health supplies, such as condoms, which are in short supply in developing countries. That's a 10-fold increase inCanada's previous contribution, Carroll said. Read: Canada Press, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail

The Toronto Star (Canada) December 1 editorial noted that “the problem [lack if resources to fight HIV/AIDS] has only deepened with a U.S. decision to cut off funding to the United Nations Population Fund.” The editorial continued: “The fund supports programs that promote reproductive health and combat sexually transmitted diseases and violence against women. These are exactly the types of prevention efforts needed to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.” Read: Toronto Star

China: Japan Economic Newswire reported November 29 that UNFPA and Red Dot Design of Shanghai have placed 200,000 condom postcards in bars, restaurants and other venues around China to promote safe sex ahead of World AIDS Day. UNFPA and Red Dot Design of Shanghai want consumers to take the cards, which show a condom-shaped maze and condoms in the pocket of a pair of jeans, and pin them to their walls at home, said Red Dot creative director Frank Tzimas. Read: Japan Economic Newswire

Georgia: Several media reported on an anti-AIDS demonstration organized throughout Tbilisi, supported by UNFPA. All day long, a bus full of young volunteers from the Union of Young Medics and the Youth Parliament traveled around the city, handing out information brochures on AIDS and free condoms to students. The information-campaign-on wheels visited almost all higher education institutions before the day was over.

India: New Kerala (India) reported December 1 that hundreds of sex workers and homosexuals participated in a street march to spread awareness about the dangers of AIDS on the occasion of World AIDS Day. According to UNFPA, India has the largest number of HIV infected people after South Africa. Read: New Kerala

Malawi: IRIN reported December 1 that UNFPA and the youth ministry are targeting girls as part of the Southern African Youth initiative, funded by the United Nations Foundation, which sponsors youth projects in seven AIDS-affected countries in southern Africa. Under the SAY project, girls are provided with vocational training in sewing, knitting, electronics and computers, as well as support in forming clubs. Read: IRIN

Nepal: As various religious and faith-based organizations expressed their solidarity in the battle against the HIV and AIDS epidemic at an event in Kathmandu on the eve of World AIDS Day, UNFPA's Executive Director Thoraya A. Obaid was quoted from her stement, saying that AIDS is taking a terrible toll on women and girls as they know less than men about HIV and AIDS and its transmission. Read: www.kantipuronline.com

South Africa: The British medical journal, The Lancet, ran a commentary in its November 27 issue, prior to World AIDS Day, by Jerome A Singh who wrote: “Given South Africa's primacy in these arenas, the latest report from UNPFA is cause for concern. The Fund projects a negative population growth for South Africa for the first time, mainly because of AIDS. The effect of AIDS has mostly been considered in country-specific contexts. If UNPFA's projection proves true, the AIDS pandemic will likely not only threaten South Africa's prosperity and population growth, but could also compound the threats posed by AIDS, poverty, and military conflicts in many other parts of the African continent.” Read: The Lancet

Thailand: The Nation (Thailand) December 1 editorial noted that during the World AIDS Conference last July, Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra pledged Thai support for ARVs treatment to patients in neighboring countries. The government has provided some ARVs drugs for use by patients in Burma and plans to do the same in Laos. Yet Thailand must ensure the drugs actually benefit the needy and not affect the availability of drugs for local patients, insisted Dr Chaiyos Kunanusont, an HIV/AIDS adviser at the United Nations Population Fund.

United Kingdom: The Guardian (U.K.) reported December 1 that the true scale of ignorance and lack of sympathy in the U.K. to people with HIV and AIDS was revealed in a survey of British attitudes. The survey was published on World AIDS Day with the launch of a book of photographs by the fashion photographer Mario Testino of women living with HIV from around the world. Testino, with the fashion designer Kenneth Cole and the actor Bianca Jagger are spearheading a U.K. campaign backed by UNFPA called Fashion Fights AIDS.
Read: The Guardian

United States: A December 2 editorial by The Ledger (U.S.) noted that the spread of HIV cannot be confronted without also confronting a host of related issues—like access to family planning services, contraceptive use, and reproductive rights. The editorial cited UNFPA’s 2004 State of World Population report as warning, "HIV/AIDS interventions must be linked more effectively to other components of reproductive health. Since most HIV transmission is through sexual contact, reproductive and sexual health information and services provide a critical entry point to prevention..." The report argues, "Linking prevention efforts and voluntary HIV testing and counseling with existing reproductive health services can improve outreach, reduce stigma and save money." The editorial concluded: “There is a critical need to step up international efforts to control the devastating spread of this deadly virus. The United States ought to be a world leader in that effort, but ideological blinders keep the Bush administration from exerting any meaningful leadership.” Read: The Ledger

On December 1, The Oregonian (U.S.) ran a letter by Betsy Riddell who wrote: “In light of World AIDS Day, I was encouraged to read the article by Emma Ross of The Associated Press, ‘AIDS fight should join forces with women's rights, U.N. says’ (Nov. 24). However, I was saddened that there was no mention of the fact the Bush administration has blocked funds Congress appropriated over the last three years for AIDS education. The administration has blocked a total of $93 million intended for UNFPA. UNFPA supports HIV/AIDS programs. Everyone can help. Check out the Web site www.34millionfriends.org. The 34Million Friends movement was founded in 2002 on the premise that if 34 million people each paid $1, we could show the world that U.S. residents care about them in spite of our administration. Well, now three years later, we need 93 million friends.” Read: The Oregonian

GLOBAL AGING POPULATION

Newsweek’s December 6 issue reported for the first time in human history, the elderly will outnumber children. More and more, it's not the children who are our future, it's the seniors. The graying of the globe is quite simply the "most significant population shift in history," says Ann Pawliczko of the United Nations Population Fund. Read: Newsweek

OTHER STORIES:

BANGLADESH: High Maternal Mortality Still a Challenge

United News of Bangladesh reported November 23 that Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said high maternal mortality rate still remained a great challenge for the country in its development process. The Minister spoke at a seminar on reproductive health, organized jointly by the UNFPA and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

GAMBIA: Government Renews Commitment to ICPD Programme of Action

"We in The Gambia will continue to demonstrate our political and financial commitments in fulfillment of the Cairo agenda" the Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Yankuba Gassama, declared when he officially launched UNFPA's State of World Population 2004 report, reported The Gambia Daily News on November 27. Read: The Daily Observer

GHANA: Hospital Transformed Especially for Maternal and Child Health Care

Ghana News Agency reported November 26 that Dr. Frank Abebrese, the Medical Superintendent, announced that the KumasiSouthHospital at Kyirapatre will be turned into a Centre of Excellence for Maternal and Child Health Care. He said the hospital was being supported with funds from the government and UNFPA to complete a maternity complex started nine years ago. Read: Ghana News Agency

INDIA: Unprotected Sex among Teens Increasing

The Times of India reported December 3 that Mridula Seth, UNFPA country representative, said, "The data we have clearly indicates sexual relationships between teenagers... unprotected sex. And it's increasing." Read: Times of India

LEBANON: Teens Learn about Sexual and Reproductive Health

The Daily Star (Lebanon) reported December 3 that an awareness campaign focusing on sexual and reproductive health at a Baalbek high school broke taboos by teaching teen-agers from the conservative area about sexual development. UNFPA contributed to the campaign, which targeted 700 teenagers between ages 12-17. Read: Daily Star

LIBERIA: University Presidential Induction Halted to Investigate Fraud of UNFPA-Sponsored Project

The Inquirer (Liberia) reported November 30 that petitioners representing various branches of the University of Liberia filed a movement to halt the induction of Dr. Al Hassan Conteh as the 12th president. The petitioners contend that Conteh’s appointment was not transparent because it was allegedly tainted with fraud and corruption. In addition, UNFPA and Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs are insisting that an audit be conducted on its sponsored project at the University Demographic Unit and the issue of financial impropriety levied against Conteh is cleared before he can be inducted as the president.

PAKISTAN: Government Plans to Work on Increasing School Enrolment in Rural Areas

Pakistan Newswire reported November 25 that by at an annual review and planning meeting on education, Secretary of Education and Literacy Mohammad Hashim Leghari said his department is working to reduce the dropout rate in rural areas and enhance girls involvement, which is only 37 percent compared to 63 percent of boys. UNFPA's Dr. Nasreen Aslam, other UN officials and officers of education department attended the meeting.

PAKISTAN: UN Agencies Working to Help Government Reach Development Goals

Pakistan Newswire reported November 23 that German Valdivia, country manager of World Food Programme said that UN agencies are working to enhance the existing mechanisms to simplify efforts and procedures to assist the Pakistan government in achieving its development goals. Presently there are five UN agencies (WFP, UNODC, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA) providing assistance in health, education, population welfare and prevention of HIV & drug abuse.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Journalist Wins UNFPA Media Award

The Express (Trinidad and Tobago) reported November 29 that at the 2004 UNFPA Caribbean Media Awards, Express journalist Joannah Bharose won a gold award for her work on social and health issues. Journalists from across the Caribbean were recognized for their work on social and health issues from Barbados, Guyana,Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States. Read: The Express

TURKEY: Success in Slowing Irregular Migration and Human Struggles

Turkish news agency, Analolia, reported November 25 that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Turkey Representative, Marielle Sander Lindstrom, said that with the help of deterrent measures, IOM has been successful in slowing irregular migration and human smuggling. “Our expenses are paid by the United States and United Nations Population Fund," said Lindstrom.

UNITED KINGDOM: Killing in the Name of Honor

A November 21 story by The Observer (U.K.) on killing in the name of honor in the U.K. reported that the international scale of such killings is virtually impossible to measure, although UNFPA has estimated that there are 5,000 a year.

VANUATU: Teen Pregnancy

Port Villa Presse (Vanuatu) reported December 1 that at the in-country technical training workshop on reproductive health, Acting Director of Health, George Taleo told participants that 80 percent of young girls on HiuIsland in the Torres Group have fallen victim to teenage pregnancy. Read: Port Villa Presse

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