UNFPA IN THE NEWS — JUNE 10-16, 2006
ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA: Youth Initiative Launched
The Messenger reported June 15 that the European Union and UNFPA funded a three-year regional Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in the South Caucasus (RHIYC) countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The First Lady of Georgia opened the event by saying: “Reproductive health is one of the important issues of the new millennium because the mortality rate among women and children has recently increased significantly in Georgia and we are trying to fight against this problem. We are focusing on women, youth – I am personally involved in the process of forming a Georgian women's group – and with the assistance of UNFPA our ability to reach goals in this area is greatly increased.” Tamar Khomasuridze, UNFPA assistant representative in Georgia expressed her gratitude towards the project's donors by saying, “We have a long and successful experience of collaboration and partnership with these organizations, whose efforts in support of the development process in Georgia deserves the highest appreciation." Read: The Messenger, UNA Georgia Online Magazine, News Georgia, Trend, Prime News
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Meeting on Violence against Women in Post-Conflict Situation
OneWorld.net reported June 16 that UNFPA, with help from the CURE Foundation, organized a meeting titled, “Violence against Women in Post-Conflict Situations: Case Study Bosnia and Herzegovina,” to create recommendations on violence against women in B & H. Zeljka Mudrovcic, UNFPA assistant representative in B&H, said, “The agreed recommendations will be used by UNFPA, within the boundaries of its mandate in B&H, as a basis for future work on lobbying for donor support and advocating inter-governmental and donor policies, processes and procedures for elimination of violence against women and gender-specific violence.” Read: OneWorld.net
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: National Youth Network Created
Les Depeches de Brazzaville reported June 12 that a national youth network had been established by the government with the support of UNFPA. 67 per cent of the population in Congo is younger that 25, and the purpose of the network is to better reach the young population with information to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and to combat poverty.
EAST TIMOR: U.N. Launches Humanitarian Aid Appeal
UN News Centre reported June 12 that the United Nations launched an appeal for some $18.9 million in humanitarian assistance to East Timor, the tiny nation where an estimated 133,000 people have been displaced by recent violence. The story noted that UNFPA and UNICEF will expand their work in child protection and preventing gender-based violence. Read: UN News Centre
FIJI: Health Centers without Contraceptive Pill
Fiji Sun reported June 11 that a number of health centers and nurse clinics have been without contraceptive pills for the past two months. National Adviser for Family Health Dr. Josaia Samuela said due to the shortage they were forced to make arrangements with UNFPA for an emergency supply of contraceptive pills. Read: Fiji Sun
HAITI: More Funding Needed for Reproductive Health and Education
Latin America Press reported June 1 that following the release of the results from Haiti’s census, UNFPA called for more funding to be allotted for adolescent reproductive health and education programs. Read: Latin America Press
INDIA AND PAKISTAN: The Fight for Their Candidate to Head U.N.
Daily Times ran a June 16 editorial on India and Pakistan’s efforts to place their candidates in the top slot to head the United Nations. The story noted that India has ‘signed and sealed’ the deal with Shashi Tharoor, currently U.N.’s undersecretary-general for information. Pakistan, on the other hand, is weighing its options with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Nafis Sadik, and the present Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram. Read: Daily Times, Indo-Asian News Service, NDTV
INDIA: Big Hurdles in Educating Villages for Health Education
Gulf News reported June 14 that bringing about changes in the mindset of people has always been a challenge for health workers. However, organizations like the UNFPA-supported Population First, aims "to give information in the way people can understand, at a time when they are in a mood to listen and motivate the community to take care of themselves," said A. L. Sharada, program director of Population First. The story noted that the biggest hurdles in educating people are in the villages where, according to UNFPA, malnutrition and anemia are high and parasitic infections like diarrhea, dysentery and malaria are common causes of maternal morbidity. Read: Gulf News
INDIA: Youth to Be Quizzed on HIV/AIDS
The Times of India reported June 16 that the Health Ministry is planning an e-quiz to test youth awareness of HIV/AIDS. The story noted that over 300 questions have been selected by a team of experts from UNAIDS, UNFPA, NACO and UNICEF. The quiz questions will be available at the portals of Yahoo India. Read: Times of India
JAMAICA: Hospital Gets Incubator
The Observer ran a June 15 story about the new incubator at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, donated by UNFPA and the European Commission. The equipment will help save the lives of prematurely born babies.
KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyz NGO Fighting for Asylum for Uzbek Nationals
Kyrgyz News Agency reported June 13 that the Kyrgyz Supreme Court refused to grant asylum to the last of the four Uzbek nationals said representatives of the Adilet human rights clinic. The story noted that Adilet, the group defending the Uzbek people's interests, is a Kyrgyz NGO, set up jointly by UNHCR, UNDP, UNFPA and the American Bar Association.
NIGERIA: Nigerians Told Not to Expect a Perfect Census
ANDnetwork.com reported June 16 that at a news conference, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) Samu'ila Danko Makama told Nigerians not to expect a perfect census result, since the exercise, like every human activity, may not be perfect. The NPC boss said the European Union and UNFPA, among other global partners, have separately expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise, giving it a rating of 97 percent. Read: ANDnetwork.com
PACIFIC: Women’s Low Political Representation a Cause for Concern
The New Zealand Herald reported June 12 that at a meeting gathering 80 Asian-Pacific women parliamentarians, it was revealed that Pacific women are among the least politically represented in the world, second only to Arab women. Najib Assifi of UNFPA told the Herald he was very concerned about the low representation of women in the parliaments around the Pacific. Assifi said it was difficult to pin down the reasons but fundamental issues had to be resolved.
PAKISTAN: Workshop to Implement Primary Healthcare Program
Business Recorder reported June 14 that at a workshop to brief authorities and the health staff on the implementation of essential package of Primary Healthcare through Basic Health Unit (BHU), the WHO officially handed over 12 pre-fabricated BHUs to the Northwest Frontier Province health department for the earthquake-affected districts of Mansehra and Battagram. Workshop participants included representatives from UNFPA, UNICEF, print-media and the affected districts.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Nationwide Health Survey to Be Launched
The National reported June 13 that a nationwide demographic health survey was launched to obtain current data needed to improve health and other social services. The story noted that UNFPA contributed K304,000 for technical assistance and operational costs. Read: The National
PARAGUAY: Campaign on Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Última Hora reported June 12 on a UNFPA-supported reproductive rights campaign by the Federation of Organizations of Neighbors of Paraguay. Read: Última Hora, ABC Color
PARAGUAY: Meeting with Women Candidates
La Nación reported June 13 that the UNFPA-funded Network of Political Women met with female candidates of all political parties. Read: La Nación
PHILIPPINES: Sex Education in the Schools
Manila Times reported June 12 that Acting Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo denied claims made by the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines that the public school system is espousing premarital sex by teaching high school students the use of condoms and other contraceptives. Hidalgo said, the "reproductive health needs of this group should be based on information that helps them attain a level of maturity required to make responsible decisions." UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Zahidul Huque said the integration of sex education in the schools is necessary to address the reproductive health concerns of adolescents, who are increasingly exposed to risky behavior. Read: Manila Times
Manila Times reported June 10 that a doctor identified with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines expressed concern about the Department of Education's decision to integrate sex education. Dr. Huque said sex education is a helpful start to solve reproductive health issues involving adolescents, who are increasingly exposed to early sexual activity. He urged the education department to adopt the program on the national level.
ROMANIA: Meeting Held to Discuss Maternal Mortality
Gandul reported June 10 that a technical meeting jointly organized by the Minister of Health, WHO and UNFPA was held to discuss the trends of maternal mortality in Romania in the last three years. Read: Gandul, EurActiv, Libertatea, Jurnalul
YEMEN: Review of National Strategy on HIV/AIDS
Yemen Observer reported June 13 that a three-day workshop was held to review the national strategy of HIV/AIDS. The workshop was organized by the National Population Council (NPC) in cooperation with the UNAIDS, National Program for Combating HIV/AID, and UNFPA. In the opening session, UNFPA Representative Alex Ilyin and representatives from other U.N. agencies and the NPC delivered speeches stressing the importance of coordination and cooperation between all stakeholders to bring the national strategy into success. Read: Yemen Observer
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