UNFPA IN THE NEWS—MAY13-19, 2006
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES
The United Nations marked the International Day of Families, themed, "Changing Families: Challenges and Opportunities," with appeals to discourage child marriage and promote secondary education and gender equality. A May 15 story by UN News Centre quoted UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid as saying, “UNFPA calls on communities and nations to actively discourage child marriage and to promote secondary education, gender equality and economic opportunities for young women and men. UNFPA also calls on governments to increase investments in sexual and reproductive health.” She added, “Today, millions of children are orphaned each year because their mothers die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, or from AIDS. Surely, we can do better. Many lives could be saved, and families strengthened, if the international goal of universal access to reproductive health were achieved.” Read: Xinhua General News Service, UN News Centre
IMELDA HENKIN NAMED PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS COORDINATOR
UN News Centre reported May 18 that Secretary-General Kofi Annan named Imelda Henkin, formerly of deputy executive director for management at UNFPA, as the U.N.’s new Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Coordinator. Read: UN News Centre
ALGERIA: AIDS Prevention Project for Youth Announced
Le Quotidien d'Oran reported May 15 that within the framework of a cooperative program between Algeria and UNFPA, the Algeria AIDS Association has been charged with setting up a project entitled "HIV/AIDS Prevention among Young People."
ARGENTINA: Publication of Research Study on Gender Equality
El Independiente reported May 15 that the United Nations Research Institute on Social Development presented a research study on gender equality in Buenos Aires. The study was in part made possible by UNFPA and the National Family, Woman, and Child Commission of the Argentinean Congress. Read: El Independiente
BANGLADESH: UNFPA Executive Director Visit
Xinhua General News Service reported May 17 that during her two-day visit, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said that Bangladesh has many challenges in terms of facing the deadly scourge of HIV/AIDS, empowering women, stopping early marriage, violence against women and reducing the growth of population. She said in Bangladesh, like many other Muslim countries, the HIV/AIDS problem is very low. "However, there are some population groups where it can become higher, for example the sex workers," she said. Obaid also lauded the progress Bangladesh made in girls' education, reducing the death of mothers and children and ensuring good primary health system. "However, this does not mean that Bangladesh does not have challenges. It still has many challenges to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by the year 2015." Obaid emphasized the need to stop early marriageand and to wipe out fistula from Bangladesh. "We have a plan to turn the existing fistula center at Dhaka Medical College Hospital into a center of excellence so that the patients from South Asia including Pakistan and Afghanistan can get treatment," she said. Read: Xinhua General News Service: May 15, May 17, UN News Centre, The New Nation
United News of Bangladesh reported May 15 during her visit, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid also said the UN agency feels proud of Bangladesh's successes in social and health sectors under the leadership of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. UNFPA has allocated $40.5 million to Bangladesh for its 2006-2010 country program action plan. Both the PM and the UNFPA executive director expressed identical sentiment about working together to further improve the quality of life of people.
BANGLADESH: National Conference of Imams
United News of Bangladesh reported May 16 that during the opening of the UNFPA-assisted National Conference of Imams 2006 on Human Resources, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia called for the country's religious leaders and imams to play a pivotal role in brightening Bangladesh's image as a liberal and democratic state. State Minister for Religious Affairs Mosharraf Hossain Shajahan, Delwar Hossain Saidee MP, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA Country Representative Suneeta Mukherjee and DG of the Islamic Foundation Md. Fazlur Rahman also spoke at the inaugural function. Read: United News of Bangladesh, The New Nation
BRAZIL: Discrimination and Violence an Obstacle to Gays Seeking Healthcare
The Radio Web News Agency ran a May 17 segment reporting that violence directed against gays prevents them from seeking health services out of fear of discrimination and abuse. Tania Patriota, UNFPA representative in Brazil, raised concerns that sexual discrimination also interferes with HIV-prevention efforts. Listen: Radio Web News Agency user name: radioweb@agenciaradioweb.com.br
BRAZIL: NGOs Request Permission for HIV-Positive Visitors to Enter the U.S.
O Povo and O Estado de Sao Paulo News reported May 12 and 15 that NGOs, government officials, and representatives from UNAIDS, PAHO and UNFPA requested that the United States allow entry to HIV-positive visitors from Brazil. Read: O Povo
GUINEA-BISSAU: Appeal to Help 20,000 in Need of Assistance after Conflict
UN News Centre reported May 16 that the U.N. appealed for $3.64 million to provide relief aid to Guinea-Bissau, where a recently ended conflict left approximately 20,000 people in need of assistance. Access to social services, including health, education, water and electricity, is limited and the national social and transport infrastructures are unable to meet demands. U.N. agencies participating in the flash appeal include UNDP, UNICEF; WFP, FAO, WHO, UNFPA and UNHCR. Read: UN News Centre
HAITI: Census Reveals High Unemployment Rates and Low Educational Levels
Ultimo Segundo, Agencia Brasil and A Gazeta News reported May 14 and 15 that Haiti’s first census in 24 years, revealing high unemployment and low education levels, was conducted with the support of UNFPA. According to Hernando Clavijo, UNFPA representative in Haiti, "This census presents a map of the most urgent needs of the country." Read: Ultimo Segundo,Agencia Brasil, A Gazeta News
JAMAICA: Teenage Pregnancy
The Jamaica Observer ran a May 16 editorial by Chieftin Campbell who warned against teenage pregnancy. The story cited UNFPA statistics revealing that approximately 15 million young women between 15 and 19 give birth every year to more than 10 percent of all babies born. Read: Jamaica Observer
JAMAICA: UNFPA Pledges Continued Support
Jamaica Gleaner reported May 15 that during a courtesy call to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, UNFPA Country Officer in Jamaica, Harold Robinson, assured continued support to help the country meet its development agenda and the Millennium Development Goals. Read: Jamaica Gleaner
KAZAKHSTAN: Joint Project on Demography
Almaty reported May 17 that UNFPA in Kazakhstan has organized a campaign to enroll students in the Charles University in Prague to study demography.
KAZAKHSTAN: Op ed on Abortion
The Strana and Mir monthly magazineran a May 15 op ed by Aida Alzhanova, UNFPA assistant representative, on abortion in Kazakhstan. Alzhanova noted that in 2003 127,000 abortions occurred, in 2004 there were 129,000 abortions and in 2005 there were125,000 abortions. She noted that one of third of all pregnancies in Kazakhstan end in abortion. Read: The Strana
MALAWI: Women’s Football League to Address Adolescent Sexual Health
The Nation reported May 16 that the Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) said it will address adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues and empower girls through the K80,000 Women Football League launched by FPAM. FPAM Executive Director Effie Perekamoyo mentioned that a team of sex workers working with FPAM through a UNFPA funded project will also participate in the league. Read: The Nation
NAMIBIA: President Meets with UNFPA to Discuss Future Cooperation
Namibian television reported May 15 that a portion of Namibia President Hifikepunye Pohamba official visit to Luxembourg involved talks with UNFPA to discuss cooperative efforts for future reproductive health programs.
NIGERIA: Rally and Workshop on FGM
The Sun News reported May 19 that at an awareness rally and workshop to end female genital mutilation (FGM), the Osun State government reiterated its penalty for anyone found guilty of FGM that includes a N50,000 fine or a two-year imprisonment. In her welcome address, UNFPA State Program Adviser Stella Akinso warned of the dangerous consequences of FGM. According to her, apart from the health hazard ranging from excessive bleeding to tetanus infections, the psychological effect of FGM on the victim is enormous. Read: Daily Sun
NIGERIA: Professor Calls on Media to Mainstream MDGs
Vanguard reported May 15 that during a three-day media workshop on population, development and gender, organized by UNFPA in collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria, Associate Professor at University of Maiduguri, Dr. Umaru Pate, called on the media to help engage government officials in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Read: Vanguard
NIGERIA: Reporter Wins UNFPA Award
The Punch reported May 19 that UNFPA Project Officer Bunmi Odumusi presented a UNFPA award to Ogun State Chief Correspondent of Punch newspapers, Niyi Odebode, in recognition of his contributions to the agency’s projects. Read: The Punch
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: NZAID to Increase Funding for HIV-Prevention
The New Zealand Herald reported May 15 that Papua New Guinea, population 5,900,000, is one of the biggest in the Pacific and also leads the region in HIV/AIDS infection rates. To prevent Papua New Guinea from following Africa’s HIV-infection track, New Zealand's international development arm, NZAID, will increase spending on development work in Papua New Guinea. New Zealand's main focus is a joint project with Australia, the Asia Development Bank and UNFPA. New Zealand's contribution this year is $3.2 million.
PHILIPPINES: PopDev Media Awards Announced
Manila Times reported May 15 that the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development, with support from UNFPA, launched the second annual PopDev Media Awards. The awards aim to recognize print journalists who have contributed to raising the awareness and the advancement of policies on population and development. Read: Manila Times
RUSSIA: Cash Incentives to Have More Children
Moscow Times ran May 19 story examining President Vladimir Putin’s plan to pull the country out of its demographic crisis and encourage mothers to have more children with cash incentives. The story quoted Francois Farah, population and development branch head of UNFPA, who said an introduction of cash incentives for mothers in some countries with similar demographic trends – including Sweden and France – has helped to stabilize fertility rates to a certain extent. Read: Moscow Times
UGANDA: Fistula in Uganda
New Vision ran a May 15 story on fistula in Uganda. The story cited a UNFPA saying that this suffering could be avoided if all women had the assistance of a skilled health worker during pregnancy and delivery, and access to emergency medical care when complications arise. Obstetric fistula concerns have been high on the agenda of many U.N.-led global and regional initiatives since 1987 when the Safe Motherhood Initiative was launched in Kenya. Read: New Vision
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