UNFPA IN THE NEWS —AUGUST 26-SEPTEMBER 1, 2006
FIJI: School Programs to Be Reviewed
Fiji Times reported August 31 that while addressing the 76th annual general meeting of the Fiji Teacher's Union, Minister for Education Ro Teimumu Kepa said behavioral problems, social problems associated with drug abuse and violence amongst school students prompted the ministry to re-look at school programs in consultation with other government ministries, and NGOs. Ro Teimumu said: "The support provided by international bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors is encouraging and I express gratitude to AusAID and UNDP who are the other donors for major projects. I also acknowledge the contributions of UNICEF, UNFPA and SPC in the implementation of Family Life Education.” Read: Fiji Times
INDIA: Concurrent Assessments Scheduled
The Hindu reported September 1 that UNFPA will lead one of the concurrent assessments commissioned by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. Read: The Hindu
INDIA: 59 Percent of Women Deliver Babies at Home
SIFY reported August 29 that 59 percent of women in India deliver their babies at home. UNFPA coordinator in Madhya Pradesh said even if seven percent of the deliveries taking place in the presence of a doctor or nurse at home were regarded safe, the total institutional deliveries touched 47.6 percent. Read: SIFY
INDIA: Funding for Three Projects Announced
Indo-Asian News Service reported August 30 that the World Bank agreed to provide $672 million for three health projects in Karnataka after India promised strong action against conspiracy and corruption in procurement across the health sector. The Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) II Project is one of the three projects covered by World Bank funds. The project is part of India's multi-billion dollar RCH II Program launched last year and supported by several other donor partners such as DFID and UNFPA. Read: Indo-Asian News Service
LEBANON: $3.6 Billion Estimated in Damages during Conflict
IRNA’s August 27 story reported that during the recently subsided conflict between Lebanon and Israel, the U.N. estimates Lebanon suffered around $3.6 billion in physical damage, including tens of thousands of homes and hundreds of kilometers of road damaged or destroyed. U.N. spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, was quoted as saying, “The U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) has provided baby kits and hygiene kits to Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon." Read: IRNA
MADAGASCAR: Promoting Safe Motherhood
Le Quotidien reported August 26 on the training of 30 health workers aiming to improve the country's reporoductive health services. The training, supported by UNFPA, focused on family planning, HIV prevention and maternal health. Read: Le Quotidien
MALAWI: Maternal Mortality Rate Decrease, More to Work to Do
The Daily Times reported August 28 that the country’s maternal mortality rate decreased to 984 from 1,800 deaths per 100,000 live births; however, the Ministry of Health says the figure is still high. Secretary for Ministry of Health Wesley Sangala said: “1,800 deaths per 100,000 live births was just a projection based on UNFPA census and the 2004 demographic study, but now the real figure is 984, which needs to reduce to 400, then we will say we have achieved fighting maternal death, which is the biggest health issue in the country. Read: The Daily Times
NEPAL: UNFPA Shows Concern over Sexual Violence
Rising Nepal reported August 26 that UNFPA is seriously concerned about the number of sexual and gender-based violence cases reported in the media. “Almost everyday we can read about women and girls being roughed up, threatened, raped or/and abducted,” said UNFPA Deputy Representative Dr. Safieh Anderson. “There must be zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence and every citizen witnessing this kind of violence should take appropriate actions to stop it.” The story noted how devastating this kind of violence is for the women and girls and mentioned that UNFPA urges everyone, including the Government, armed forces, political parties and individuals to respect all women’s and girl’s rights and needs.
PALESTINE: Roadside Births Highlighted
UN News Centre reported August 30 that UNFPA spotlighted the plight of pregnant women, who are being delayed at Israeli checkpoints, forcing roadside births and even causing the death of some women and infants. The agency issued a statement urging access to health facilities and stressing that humanitarian organizations must be allowed to operate freely. Read: UN News Centre
SENEGAL: Poverty and Early Marriage
IRIN reported August 29 that obstetric fistula and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) are symptoms of poverty and early marriage in Senegal. The story noted that the stigma from fistula drives many girls and young women into isolation. FGM that is practiced by some ethnic groups can produce complications during childbirth. Members of the Mandigo ethnic group believe that giving birth is a struggle between life and death and that a woman must face it alone. “It's a rite of passage for a women and she must show courage. If she asks for help, she will be looked down upon," said Babacar Mane, UNFPA expert on maternal health in Tambacounda. Read: IRIN
SWAZILAND: HIV/AIDS Youth Educators Need Guidance
IRIN’s August 31 story reported on the need for guidance for youth peer educators who teach people about HIV/AIDS and how to prevent transmission of the disease. One of the greatest challenges to peer education is overcoming isolation in the field. According to Marjorie Mavuso, UNFPA assistant representative, "Swaziland has all these skilled and dedicated peer educators working with the youth of their communities, but there is no strategy of coordination." The story noted that an approach linking peer educators has now been formulated in partnership with the Swaziland Youth Congress. "The grassroots approach is the best. The peer educators know their communities better than administrators in [the capital], Mbabane. What will now be provided to them are resources," Mavuso said. Read: IRIN
TURKEY: Honor Killings Examined
BBC News’ August 28 story examined the so-called "honor killings" in Turkey. The story noted that Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, former UNFPA Representative in Ankara, has carried out an in-depth study on honor killings in Turkey. She said: "Whether we have interviewed people in Istanbul or in the south-east of Turkey, most men at least refer to honor as something to do with the women in their lives and particularly to do with women's behavior and their sexuality." Read: BBC News
VIETNAM: Government and UNFPA Face Challenges
Vietnam News Service reported August 28 that the high death rate among Vietnamese women giving birth and adolescents’ low condom use worry UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Ian Howie. "This is a major challenge for the government and the UNFPA," he said. The ongoing 7th country program will deal with specific population and development goals that were yet to be achieved, Howie said. "So we need to target what we need to do." Read: Vietnam News Service
ZAMBIA: Northwestern Province Women Treated for Obstetric Fistula
IRIN reported September 1 that 31 women in Northwestern Province underwent surgical correction for obstetric fistula. The story credited the exodus of medical staff seeking better wages and working conditions in other more developed countries to affecting the quality of medical care. "The occurrence of fistula is an indication of the weak health delivery service, and in some Zambian clinics in rural areas the health service workers are actually unskilled laborers known as the non-classified daily employees. Therefore, in case of prolonged labor or any obstetric pregnancy complication, fistula will develop," said Deji Popoola, UNFPA country representative. UNFPA has been spearheading a campaign since 2003 to promote sound reproductive health, using community groups and safe motherhood organizations to raise awareness about the condition. Read: IRIN
ZIMBABWE: Women Parliamentarians Trained on Gender and Development
The Herald reported August 30 that the women's parliamentary caucus participated in a training to learn basic skills in gender and development as well as discussing the Domestic Violence Bill. The training was facilitated by the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development in conjunction with UNFPA and UNICEF. Read: The Herald
ZIMBABWE: Indifferent Responses Heard on Providing Automatic Access to ARVs
The Herald ran an August 31 column by Beatrice Tonhodzayi criticizing indifferent responses to whether there should be automatic and immediate access to anti-retrovirals (ARVs) for rape victims. Tonhodzzavi noted the responses for the question posed at a workshop for female parliamentarians by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development in conjunction with UNFPA and UNICEF included comments such as, “there was no need for immediate and automatic access to ARVs for rape victims because it was not automatic that if one got raped they would be infected with HIV” and “there was need to wait to see if one would be infected with HIV first before administering ARVs.” Her column concluded: “We can break the culture of silence surrounding rape and let the nation know that immediate and automatic access to ARVs for rape survivors can only be a plus. If we can open at least 20 minds to report rape immediately – it would be start.” Read: The Herald
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