UNFPA IN THE NEWS — SEPTEMBER 2-15, 2006

25th ANNIVERSARY OF CEDAW

Philippine Daily Inquirer ran a September 8 column by Rina Jimenez David on celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Organizations involved in putting on a concert celebrating CEDAW were UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM, the CEDAW South East Asia Program, UNAIDS, CEDAW Watch Network, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, Women and Gender Institute Miriam College, and the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation Inc.

CAMPAIGN TO END FISTULA

Ethiopia: The Daily Monitor reported September 3 that the WHO launched the obstetric fistula manual entitled “Guiding Principles for Clinical Management and Program Development” at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. The event which marks a major milestone in the fight against obstetric fistula, brought together medical experts and heads of government to launch the first manual intended to serve as a practical guide for use by health-care professionals and planners, policy-makers and community leaders. In partnership with UNFPA and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, WHO has scaled up efforts and developed a multi-tiered prevention strategy to tackle fistula. Read: Daily Monitor

Madagascar: La Nouvelle reported September 2 that 210 cases of women hospitalized for fistula have been registered in the country. Dr Manasé Ranjato, an obsterician and gynaecologist explained that fistula is one of the most neglected problems in maternal health, and welcomed the fact that the UNFPA-led Campaign to End Fistula was now active in the country.

Nigeria: The Daily Trust reported September 8 on the WHO’s manual on obstetric fistula. UNFPA Assistant Country Representative Dr. Lucy Idoko attended the media briefing and dinner to launch the publication.

Uganda: New Vision reported September 4 on women undergoing fistula repair at St. Anne's Fistula Repair Unit in Kitovu Hospital, Masaka District. Dr. Maura, a surgeon of 41 years with the Medical Missionaries of Mary in Ireland, came to Uganda and joined Kitovu Hospital in 1987. The story quoted Dr. Maura as saying the Ministry of Health in conjunction with Engender Health and UNFPA now sponsors the fistula repair services. Read: New Vision

Zambia: Times of Zambia reported September 5 on a group of women suffering from obstetric fistula in a Solwezi General Hospital ward. The story noted that poverty and illiteracy are almost the ever-present contributors in causing obstetric fistula. Most of them had not been to any school while others had only gone as far as grade four. UNFPA Country Representative Deji Popoola said: “The occurrence of fistulae is an indication of the weak health delivery service because in some clinics in rural areas, the health service workers are actually unskilled laborers known as non-classified daily employees.” UNFPA and the government are in the process of creating fistula centers in key zone areas of each province although lack of funds has slowed down the project. "As part of our mandate to promote sound reproductive health, we are seeking to restore the full functionalities of the affected women. They should be able to bear children after the repair and enjoy a normal sexual life like any other woman because obstetric fistula is treatable," said Dr. Popoola. Read: Times of Zambia, IRIN

ANGOLA: Highest Under-Five Mortality Rate

Xinhua General News Service’s September 7 mentioned that UNFPA announced that Angola has the highest under-five mortality rate among the five Portuguese-speaking African countries, or PALOP. The UNFPA said, among every 1,000 live births, some 133 children die under the age of five. Read: Xinhua General News Service

ANTIGUA: Technical Cooperative Agreement Signed

Antigua Sun reported September 5 that Antigua & Barbuda signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with Japan, which will give the nation support in areas of training and development, technical experts and provision of equipment and materials for economic and social development projects. The story noted that the equipment provision for population and family planning was provided through cooperation between UNFPA and Japan Overseas Co-operation Volunteers. Read: Antigua Sun

BANGLADESH: Maternal Mortality Rate Continues to Increase

The New Nation reported September 10 that despite Bangladesh’s government taking numerous steps to reduce maternal mortality in the country, the rate of mortality is increasing. Nurul Ameen, UNFPA assistant country representative, said, "The present maternal mortality ratio in the country is 3.20: 1,000 and 14 percent of the maternal deaths are due to violence during pregnancy." Women in subordinate position, son preference, discrimination against girls and women, burden of household work on women and young girls, lack of freedom and mobility for girls and women, lack of work opportunities and sexual harassment, cultural and social stigmatization of domestic violence or culture of 'wife beating' – are the reasons behind the maternal mortality in the country, he added. Read: New Nation

BANGLADESH: Information about Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Pushed for Inclusion in National Textbooks

The Daily Star reported September 10 that at a workshop titled, “Reproductive Health, Gender Issues and HIV/AIDS,” Information Minister M. Shamsul Islam underscored the need to include reproductive health and HIV/AIDS issues in the national textbook to create awareness among people. Read: Daily Star

COTE D’IVOIRE: Peace Talks Underway

IRIN reported September 5 that the peace talks in Cote d'Ivoire got underway to help bring an end to a four-year war that has put three million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The story noted that among many of those in need, a recent survey by UNFPA showed that a third of displaced children had no access to education. Read: IRIN

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Women as Breadwinners

UN News Centre reported September 6 that Dominican Republic women who migrated abroad to earn more money were empowered by their new roles as household breadwinners and decision-makers. However, in their new role the women were still expected to conform to traditional gender roles, according to a study released today by the U.N. International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. Read: UN News Centre

GHANA: FIDA Warns of Sexual Indulgence

Ghana News Agency reported September 15 that at a UNFPA-sponsored workshop, Efua Brown Eyeson, a member of the International Federation of Female Lawyers, expressed worry over the raging permissiveness about sex in the society. She said sexual indulgence had left several people bitter, regretful and wishing they had had another opportunity to re-live their lives. Read: Ghana News Agency

INDIA: Rural Health Mission Assessed

The Hindu reported September 6 that several independent agencies took place to assess the National Rural Health Mission. UNFPA also assessed the mission, but its work was confined to the functioning of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). The Health Ministry has commissioned the services of UNFPA in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand following criticism that recruitment of ASHAs had been unsatisfactory, even two years into implementing the mission. Read: The Hindu

LIBERIA: Women Participate in Community Empowerment Program

The Analyst reported September 6 that about 173 Liberian women in the Soul Community participated in skill training courses in food preservation, tailoring, micro credit-loan-fund, reproductive health including HIV/AIDS awareness, psychosocial counseling and community mobilization, adult literacy and advocacy. UNFPA funded the Community Empowerment Program and organized a training course for the program. Executive Director of Community Empowerment Program Madam Lucy Page thanked institutions that have been helpful to her agency, especially UNFPA. Read: The Analyst

NEPAL: Dams Blamed for Severe Flooding

Inter Press Service reported September 2 that in west Nepal, families trapped by torrential monsoon rains and resultant floods received food aid and other essential supplies. The story noted that UNICEF, through the Red Cross, has dispatched relief supplies – including tarpaulins, blankets, oral re-hydration salts, water purification materials, household utensils and blankets – to the worst-affected areas. UNFPA has also set up two mobile health clinics in Banke and Bardiya to support basic health care services. Read: IRIN, The Himalayan Times

NEPAL: Heavy Rains Continue

IRIN reported September 12 that as heavy rains continue to cause destruction in the region, UNFPA has provided Nepal medical aid through mobile health camps, in particular for pregnant women and new mothers. Read: IRIN

NEPAL: UNFPA Leads HIV/AIDS Fight for Female Sex Workers

Nepal News reported September 14 that UNFPA will lead U.N. efforts to intensify HIV/AIDS response among female sex workers and initiate efforts to eliminate violence against them. According to a press release by UNFPA and UNAIDS in Katmandu, UNFPA will work to empower female sex workers and meet their sexual and reproductive health needs. "Female sex workers deserve a comprehensive package of services including reproductive health, legal and social services," said UNFPA Representative Junko Sazaki. “The response toward commercial sex work needs to be comprehensive and scaled up in order to prevent HIV/AIDS as well as to ensure that sexual reproductive health needs are met.” Read: Nepal News

NIGERIA: President Assured Census Results Reliable

Nigeria Trust reported September 7 that while briefing President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Makama said that the National Population Commission's Data Processing Centers were working two shifts a day and had achieved 87% scanning of the census forms from all local government areas. He assured the president that the international community and development partners had expressed satisfaction with the NPC, adding that UNFPA had sent the Sudanese Population Office to understudy Nigeria's census processes, with a view to adopting same in that country' census later this year. Read: Nigeria First

NIGERIA: Young People’s Prospects and Challenges

The Tide reported September 6 that in his presentation on “Young People, Prospects and Challenges,” State Coordinator of Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria Tamunoala Bright called on the Rivers government and UNFPA to see youths as agents of development. The gathering was jointly organized by the state government and the UNFPA. Read: The Tide

PAKISTAN: Project Planned for Population and Development for Youth

Business Recorder reported September 3 that the Population Welfare Ministry, in collaboration with UNFPA, will start a project on “Population and Development for Youth.” The project will focus on creating awareness about different demographic aspects of population growth and their effects on quality of life, which includes health, food, nutrition, housing, education, employment, environment, health, education and HIV/AIDS section.

PAKISTAN: Workshop on Cooperation and Sustainable Development

The Pakistan Newswire reported September 4 that Ministry of Population Welfare in collaboration with Partners in Population and Development Dhaka organized a one-day international workshop on "South – South Cooperation and Sustainable Development." Representatives from Parliament, civil society, NGOs, UNFPA and donor agencies, will attended the workshop.

PALESTINE: “Hidden” Effects of Conflict

Gulf Times ran a September 7 op ed by Dr. Cesar Chelala, an international public health consultant, who wrote on the “hidden” effects of conflict in Palestine. Chelala noted: “Two U.N. agencies which closely follow women’s health needs, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM) are extremely concerned about the situation in the Gaza Strip. Violence and closures have impaired access of civilians, particularly women, to life-saving services such as surgery and emergency obstetric care. UNFPA is particularly concerned that damaged health facilities have restricted access to reproductive health services, especially pre and post-natal care.” Read: Gulf Times

PHILIPPINES: Youth Forum Held

Manila Bulletin reported September 4 that a group called Advocates for Youth (A4Y) organized a forum to educate the youth on health, parenthood, sexuality and reproduction, among others. A4Y conducted their youth forum in celebration of the World Population Day in partnership with UNFPA and Commission on Population. Read: Manila Bulletin

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: Unmet Need for Family Planning Discussed

Angola Press Agency reported September 6 that a meeting was held in New York to address the unmet need for family planning in sub-Saharan Africa. UNFPA Senior Official Fama Ba said estimates of women dying from unsafe abortion in the region ranged from 29,800 to 34,000 per year. "Maternal mortality is only the tip of the iceberg," Ba told participants from Ethiopia’s preparatory consultation ahead of the African health ministers’ conference on the Continental Policy Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Read: Angola Press Agency

Awareness Times reported September 7 that Sierra Leone’s Health and Sanitation Minister Abator Thomas attended the three-day meeting in New York sponsored by UNFPA and other U.N. agencies. Read: Awareness Times

SYRIA: Joint Activities Discussed

SANA reported September 4 that Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Faissal Meqdad and UNFPA’s Regional Director General of the Arab, Europe and East Asia Areas Dr. Aladdin Mursi discussed the U.N. agency’s joint activities with the state ministries and establishments. Read: SANA

TURKEY: “Honor Killing” Summit Held

Hurriyet reported September 9 that at the “Honor Killings Summit” in Ankara, MP Nimet Çubukçu stated that, according to UNFPA estimates, over five thousand women are killed every year in Turkey as a result of honor crimes. Read: Hurriyet

UZBEKISTAN: Seminar on Health, Life and Family

UzReport.com reported September 14 that with UNFPA assistance, the National Education Centre under Public Education Ministry hosted a five-day seminar, “Basics of Health Life and Family," for education representatives. Read: UzReport.com

ZANZIBAR: Government Appeals for More Support for Development

The Daily News reported September 15 that Zanzibar’s government has asked for more financial and technical support from UNDP to hasten socio-economic development. The Isles Minister for Labor, Youth, Women and Children Development Asha Abdullah Juma said the government with U.N. agencies such as UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO and ILO had put in place a number of policies and legislations to safeguard the welfare of women, youth and children. Read: Daily News

ZIMBABWE: 2006 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey

The Herald reported September 7 that Zimbabwe’s HIV prevalence rate has declined from 20.1 percent to 18.1 percent among the 15 to 49 age group, according to the 2005-2006 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey. The story noted that the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council, National AIDS Council, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, U.S. CDC, USAID and DFID worked with the Health and Child Welfare Ministry on the survey. Read: The Herald

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