| UNFPA IN THE NEWS
– SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2005
WORLD SUMMIT
Inter Press Service ran an op ed by Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, that urged: "To strengthen the Millennium Goals, the Millennium Project team has recommended a new target: universal access to reproductive health by 2015 to be achieved through the primary health care system. At this Summit, leaders will have an unprecedented chance to change women's lives, to end poverty, not just in their lifetimes, but in the next few years. And the women of the world will find out if their well-being is a priority or not." Read: Inter Press Service
The Guardian (U.K.) reported September 3 that investment in maternal health remains pitiful - it's estimated that another $39 billion in extra resources is needed to achieve the maternal health goal by 2015. The story noted that there are cultural obstacles for women to use reproductive health facilities. A recent survey conducted in Sierra Leone by UNFPA revealed that even if there were services available, 50% of women would prefer to go to a TBA to deliver their baby. BENIN AND TOGO: Care for Togolese Refugees
United Press International reported September 7 that since political violence sparked by Togo's presidential election sent refugees fleeing into neighboring Benin, UNFPA announced that it was deploying resources to address the physical and mental health needs of 40,000 Togolese refugees. "Any displaced person who has been removed from his or her normal environment automatically becomes vulnerable," Fidelis Zama Chi, the UNFPA representative in Togo, said. Read: UN News Centre
BRAZIL: Condom Shortage Resolved
Agencia Brasil reported September 6 that the shortage of condoms in some state health departments is soon likely also to harm programs conducted by non-governmental organizations engaged in the struggle against AIDS in Brazil. To resolve this problem, the ministry has already negotiated an agreement to obtain 150 million units through UNFPA and the World Bank. Read: Agencia Brasil CONGO: UNFPA Supports Congo in Mapping Health
Les Dépêches de Brazzaville reported September 7 that UNFPA has donated computer equipment worth US$200,000 to assist Congo in mapping the health situation of the country. The equipment will facilitate data analysis."Without reliable statistics," said Mexill Etongo of the Ministry of Health and Population, "planning can only be based on assumptions." FIJI: Young People Hungry for Correct Information on HIV/AIDS
Sunday Times (Fiji) reported September 4 that at the 46^th Annual Fiji Medical Association Scientific Conference, Dr. Timaima Tuiketei said: "We have seen that young people are hungry for correct information on HIV/ AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. At the moment we have 17 peer educators, employed by the Ministry of Health and the peer educator program is funded by UNFPA and we have seen it work." Read: Sunday Times
KYRGYZSTAN: Camp Empowers Youth to Help Their Communities
IRIN reported September 9 that teenagers in Kyrgyzstan have been attending a unique summer camp to learn how to mobilize their communities, form effective teams and advocate for change. A key component is drawing up project proposals, including formulation of budgets. The project is sponsored by UNFPA, UNICEF and U.N. Volunteers. The program is trying to capitalize on youthful passion to effect local change. "Projects that these youth have developed do not take too much money, or too much organization, just enthusiasm in most cases," Julien Pellaux, a UNFPA information and advocacy officer, said. "We will be continuing this training and consider giving financial assistance to some projects. Though the aim is not to give financial assistance, it is to show that people can do a lot of things without much money. We need to get youth more interested in life." Read: IRIN
MALAWI: Maternal Mortality Projects
The Nation (Malawi) reported September 8 that the ever-increasing maternal death rate worries many Malawians. UNFPA National Project Officer, Anna Chinombo said since 2001, UNFPA has been running projects in Mchinji, Dedza and Nkhata Bay to educate communities on curbing maternal mortality rates.
MOROCCO: Youth Group Holds Workshops on HIV/AIDS Awareness
Al-Bawaba reported September 8 that with the support of the Association of Fight against HIV/AIDS, the secretariat of the youth and UNFPA, a group of young people have held workshops in cities throughout Morocco during the summer to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Read: Al-Bawaba
NEPAL: Maternal Health
Inter Press Service reported September 3 that life for women in Nepal, one of Asia's poorest nations, has never been easy. Seven hundred and forty women out of 100,000 die giving birth, and only 18 percent of births are attended by a skilled practitioner. In neighboring India the rate is 540 deaths per 100,000 births, according to UNFPA. Read: Inter Press Service
PHILIPPINES: Condom Distributed to Workers
The Philippine Star reported September 6 that with support from UNFPA, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines have started distributing condoms and contraceptives to workers in their member companies. Read: The Philippine Star
SIERRA LEONE: Police Complete Workshop on HIV/AIDS/STI
Concord Times (Sierra Leone) reported September 9 that police have completed a one-day workshop on peer education training and condom use to enhance the understanding of basic facts about the prevention of HIV/AIDS/STI, reproductive health promotion and counseling skills. UNFPA Director of Training, Osman Kamara thanked partners for providing the basic logistics, adding that he is happy to be selected as a pacesetter in enhancing the use of condoms.
UGANDA: U.N. Report on Internally Displaced People Contested
The Monitor (Uganda) reported September 7 that the Ugandan government is contesting a U.N. report that revealed that up to 1,000 people die every week from disease and hunger in camps for the internally displaced people in conflict-hit north. The Health and Mortality Survey was compiled by the WHO, UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, International Rescue Committee and the U.K. Department for International Development. Read: The Monitor
UNITED STATES: U.S. Condom Policy Puts Africa at Risk
The Boston Globe (U.S.) reported September 8 that last week, activists, including a UNAIDS representative and two prominent AIDS activists in Africa, blamed U.S. policies as playing a role in a shortage of condoms in Uganda. The story noted that globally, donor support for condoms has dropped significantly in recent years, from $2.7 billion in 2001 to $1.8 billion in 2003, the latest figures available, according to Jagdish Upadhyay, head of commodities management branch at UNFPA. Read: Boston Globe
UNITED STATES: Religious Fundamentalism Impact on Reproductive Health
The Des Moines Register/ (U.S.) ran a September 4 column by Rekha Basu who wrote: "As Christian conservatives exert a growing role in our own government's decisions, one has to wonder if the Bush administration is equally committed to a secular democracy at home." She mentioned: "Here in America, women are feeling the impact of our growing fundamentalism in reproductive health issues. Not only is the morning-after pill being withheld, but some pharmacists are refusing to fill prescriptions for birth control because of their religious beliefs, and some lawmakers want to pass laws to give them that right. Also, for the fourth year in a row, the White House is withholding $34 million in funds for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), claiming the agency has allowed forced abortions and sterilizations in China - even though government investigators found the charges groundless." Read: Des Moines Register
VIETNAM: High Birth Rates Reduced
Vietnam News Agency reported September 9 that Vietnam has reduced high birth rates by increasing the quality of family planning services and employing various solutions, said UNFPA at a conference reviewing the first five years' implementation of Viet Nam's 2001-2010 Population Strategy held in Ha Noi. Read: Vietnam News Agency
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