| UNFPA IN THE NEWS – FEBRUARY 7-13, 2004 BANGLADESH AND PAKISTAN: Poverty, Child Pregnancy and Fistula A February 10 story by Inter Press Service reported
Shershah Syed, the doctor in charge of the gynecology department
at Qatar General Hospital, has run an annual ''fistula camp''
in Sindh province's rural interior in the decade since he received
surgical training at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia.
Women who come to the camp are treated free of charge. In Bangladesh,
at the other end of the South Asian subcontinent, the government
has announced plans to establish a National Fistula Center with
assistance from the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). Syed, a longtime
advocate of improved emergency obstetric care and other measures
to reduce the incidence of fistulae, said similar steps appeared
unlikely in Pakistan. Read: Inter
Press Service BHUTAN: Farah’s Farewell Visit Keunsel (Bhutan) reported February
12 that the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) association
with Bhutan has witnessed concrete progress said the UNFPA country
director for Bhutan, Mr. Francois Michel Farah, who is in the
capital on a farewell visit. “I have been managing the Bhutan-UNFPA
program for last three years and the projects we have undertaken
have been very positive.” What has happened in Bhutan is the concurrence
of the two factors said Mr. Farah. “On one hand health services
have been strengthened and on the other, demand on health services
has increased. So, the two have come together to create an impact
and bring about the desired change in matters of health seeking
behavior, and creating awareness on issues such as HIV/AIDS, adolescence,
reproductive health, gender, and women’s empowerment. This kind
of double investment will make a big difference. Thanks to Her
Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck’s advocacy efforts as the
UNFPA goodwill ambassador.” Read: Keunsel
ETHIOPIA: Early Marriage Detrimental to Health Panafrican News Agency (PANA) reported February
9 although Ethiopia has set 18 years as the legal age of marriage
for girls, 60 percent of marriages in the country still involve
girls below that age, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative
Monique Rakotomalala has said. Warning about the dangers of under-age
motherhood, Rakotomalala said girls aged 10-14 were five times
likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than women aged 20-24.
LEBANON: Alleviating Poverty The Daily Star (Lebanon) reported February
7 that the United Nations Development Program started a field
survey to collect statistics that would help toward alleviating
poverty. The survey is being conducted for the Multipurpose Household
Survey which is a component of a joint program between UNDP and
the Social Affairs Ministry to strengthen the capacity of the
latter and help develop an integrated strategy for poverty reduction,
implement poverty-reduction projects, enhance the participation
of civil society in the battle against poverty and adopt monitoring
tools for assessing change. The World Bank, the UN Population
Fund and other organizations will offer technical assistance.
NIGERIA: Organization Assessing FGM A February 9 story by This Day (Nigeria)
mentioned in recognition of the dangerous side effects of FGM,
an organization known as Inter – African Committee (IAC) on traditional
practices affecting the health of women and children was established
in Dakar, Senegal at the end of a regional seminar that was sponsored
by the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the Government of Senegal in 1984.
Read: This Day UNITED STATES: Funding for UNFPA A February 9 editorial by The Orlando Sentinel
(USA) noted Congress recently included in the foreign-aid bill
a $34 million appropriation to the United Nations Population Fund,
which works in 140 countries to broaden information about and
access to contraception. UNFPA also makes motherhood safer through
prenatal care, attended deliveries and AIDS prevention. The editorial
urged, “Now it's up to President George W. Bush whether the money
will be spent.” The editorial concluded, “In an election year,
Mr. Bush may be extra reluctant to stir up trouble among people
who don't want to hear the facts. But what good is being president
if you're afraid to do what's right?” Read: Orlando
Sentinel VIETNAM: Da Nang Developed at Model
City Voice of Vietnam reported February 9 that Da
Nang People’s Committee has decided to join the Association of
nine Asian Cities at the invitation of the Asian Urban Information
Center of Kobe (AUICK), Japan. With the support of the United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Da Nang will be developed as
a model city. Under the programme, Da Nang will represent Vietnam’s
cities at meetings, which will be held in Kobe from July 30 to
August 2, with assistance from UNFPA, to discuss research and
activities. The meetings will also be a good opportunity for the
leaders of Asian Cities to exchange experience in senior official
training to resolve issues of concern including AIDS, poverty
reduction, living conditions in slums and education, especially
for children and women. Read: Voice of Vietnam
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