UNFPA IN THE NEWS —APRIL 16-29, 2007

AFGHANISTAN: Survey Reveals a Decrease in Infant Mortality in Post-Taliban Era

The Associated Press reported April 27 that improvements in women's access to medical care since the Taliban fell five years ago have led to a marked decrease in Afghanistan's infant mortality rates, with 40,000 fewer infant deaths a year, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins University. The story noted that Afghanistan still has one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates. One Afghan mother dies for every 60 births, said UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid. "No woman should die giving life," Obaid said during a visit to Afghanistan this week. "No nation can be developed when its women are dying giving birth." Read: Associated Press

AGHANISTAN: UNFPA Supports National Census and Promotes Family Planning

UN News Centre reported April 23 that Afghanistan must intensify efforts to improve the health of women and children as part of overall efforts to boost conditions in the war-ravaged country, said Thoraya Obaid, executive director of UNFPA. The story noted that UNFPA is supporting Afghanistan’s census while seeking to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment and foster maternal health, reproductive health and HIV prevention. “We all know from many studies that women contribute greatly to their families and communities and that when women participate in the community and the family, that the country becomes much stronger,” she said. Xinhua General News Service reported April 23 that the national census will be launched in 2008 while a pilot census will begin by July this year. No complete census has taken place in Afghanistan over the past 30 years. The project would cost around $60 million according to Regional Director to Asia-Pacific Sultan Aziz. Read: UN News Centre, Xinhua General News Service, Radio Free Afghanistan

Reuters reported April 23 that Obaid said people had to understand that family planning was not against the rules of Islam. Spacing allows a mother to regain her health before becoming pregnant again and also allows a family to devote more attention and resources to each child, she said. "The right to health, the right to education, the right to income and the right to life – all of these can be achieved by planning one's family." Read: Reuters

ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION: Correlation between HIV/AIDS and Treatment of Women and Girls
Minnesota Public Radio (US) ran an April 24 segment on the correlation between HIV/AIDS in Asia and the treatment of women and girls. The segment featured Nafis Sadik, special U.N. envoy for HIV/AIDS for Asia and Pacific and former Executive Director of UNFPA for 13 years until 2001. Read: Minnesota Public Radio

BANGLADESH: Family Planning Service Week 2007 Observed

The Financial Express reported April 22 that during Family Planning Service Week 2007, Health and Family Welfare Adviser ASM Matiur Rahman underscored the need for taking permanent methods to reduce birth rate for the greater interest of the country. The inaugural session featured Director General of Health Directorate Mohammad Shahjahan Biswas, Director General of Family Planning Directorate Muhammad Abdul Mannan, Deputy Representative of UNFPA Pornchai Suchitta and WHO Representative to Bangladesh Duangvadee Sungkhobol. Read: Financial Express

BELGIUM: Launch of Fistula Awareness Campaign

On April 26, Freya Van den Bossche, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister, joined a number of Belgian celebrities from the fashion, music and
TV world to launch a public awareness initiative in Belgium to bolster visibility and support for the global Campaign to End Fistula.

A targeted one-month campaign will be seen across Brussels in May 2007, with ads in the airport, metro, Eurostar platform, and popular magazines.  Campaign Spokesperson Natalie Imbruglia and Goedele Liekens, the Belgian UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, were keynote speakers at the reception and gave press interviews to  major national papers and TV stations.  Dr. France Donnay and Yahya Kane of UNFPA were also interviewed by several  publications.

In an interview with De Morgen on April 27, Natalie Imbruglia stressed the importance of putting fistula on the political agenda of decision makers. "While cancer and HIV/AIDS as major problems are already widely known, it is high time that other important women's issues are tackled. I did not know anything about fistula before traveling with UNFPA to Ethiopia and Nigeria but after that, I realised that I had a duty to fully support this campaign", she said. To Het Belang van Limburg she told that in Nigeria she had talks with religious authorities: "people often listen more to them, and their advice is crucial in prevention and in reintegration of the women with fistula".

In Het Laatste Nieuws April 27, Goedele Liekens said a change in mentality of men and medical practitioners is needed: "solving problems of fistula will end the shame surrounding many other problems of women in countries where it is still a problem to discuss issues of women's health", she said.

In Le Soir April 27, Yahya Kane, Programme Specialist in UNFPA,  explained the condition and how poor and very young women are the most vulnerable to suffering a fistula. In the same article, Natalie Imbruglia told the reporter how she had spent a long time searching for a cause she could fully devote herself to, and how fistula "was it" for her.

On 27 April, on De Rode Loper—a TV show—Campaign Spokesperson Natalie Imbruglia and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador Goedele Liekens both relayed stories from their respective trips to visit fistula patients in Africa.  "I heard about it [fistula] in 2005 and I was shocked that I hadn't heard about it and that motivated me to want to go to Africa," said Ms. Imbruglia.  "I met the women, I learned about the condition and I spoke to spiritual leaders in Nigeria.  I spoke to the men in the community and I just felt that they [women living with fistula] shouldn't be suffering so needlessly."

Another TV show, VTM Splash featured an interview with Natalie Imbruglia and Goedele Liekens, who met to discuss their mutual commitment to help end obstetric fistula. 

CAMEROON: Census Continuing Despite Hurdles

Cameroon Tribune reported April 19 that informed sources at the Central Bureau of the Census and Population Studies said the population census is continuing despite the hurdles. After conducting the post census survey, demographers are presently working on the facts collected in the field to determine the error margin in the counting exercise of November, 2005. The story noted that the post census survey constitutes one of the major prerequisites for UNFPA to validate census results. Read: Cameroon Tribune

CANADA: “Eco-Warrior” Trend of Choosing to Remain Childless

The Globe and Mail ran an April 21 column by Leah McLaren who examined the “eco-warrior” trend of preferring to remain childless to save the environment. McLaren cited a UNFPA report that revealed “in the 20th century, the global population grew to 6.1 billion from 1.6 billion, causing a 12-fold increase in carbon-dioxide emissions.”

COMORES: Violence Against Women, a Persistent Taboo

Kashkazi, a monthly magazine, reported in its April edition that a survey by the government supported by UNFPA revealed that women in the Comores, regardless of age and social status, experience gender-based discrimination and violence. In the planning of the next UNFPA programme cycle, gendre-based violence will be one of the priorities, said Country representativeBenoit Kalasa.

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: Plans for New Fistula Centre

Fraternité Matin reported April 23 that UNFPA representative, Philippe Delanne pledged to support a new centre for fistula repairs at the hospital of Man. During his recent visit there, he also said UNFPA had decided to rehabilitate the maternity and obstetrics ward of the hospital to make them more functional. Read: Fraternité Matin 

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: Support for Radio School

Fraternité Matin reported April 21 that during a recent ceremony, several kits containing mini-discs, microphones, headsets and other radio equipment were handed over to the Institut des sciences techniques de la communication by Philippe Delanne, UNFPA representative. Radio being an important means of communication in poor and rural settings, UNFPA expressed its wish that Côte d'Ivoire would become a "true partner for audiovisual development".

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: 17 New Peer Educators
Notre Voie reported April 16 that 17 new peer educators are now ready to practise their new skills in helping to prevent the spread of HIVamong young people. The educators had been trained by UNFPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

FIJI: Doctor's Fight against AIDS

Fiji Times reported April 29 on Dr. Jiko Luveni efforts to help people living with HIV/AIDS. The story noted that Dr. Luveni spent 15 years of her career at UNFPA where she worked as a project manager in family planning and maternal health. The story mentioned that Dr. Luveni credits her experiences at UNFPA for getting involved in HIV/AIDS. “Although it was an emerging problem for Fiji, I thought of leaving UNFPA to work fully with HIV because I thought it would be more useful.” Her urge to help people with HIV/AIDS was driven by what she had seen the disease do to a person and the state of hopelessness that an infected person was reduced to because of ignorance so she left UNFPA and joined the Health Ministry as the HIV Project Office. Read: Fiji Times

FIJI: 6,000 Mothers Screened for HIV

Fiji Times reported April 18 that about 6,000 expectant mothers every year are screened for HIV at clinics around Fiji to prevent mother-to-child transmission. The story noted that UNICEF, in partnership with the WHO, UNFPA and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, hosted the Pacific regional workshop on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS to strengthen and accelerate the capacity of governments and regional partners.

GHANA: Aide Memoire Signed

Ghana News Agency reported April 21 that the Ministry of Health and its development partners have exhibited commitment in improving the health and achieving the targets of the Millennium Development Goals by signing an Aide Memoire. The story identified the development partners as the European Commission, Kingdom of Netherlands, DFID, UNFPA, the World Bank, USAID and the embassy of Japan. Read: Ghana News Agency

GHANA: Ghanaians Urged to “Treasure” the Extended Family System

Ghana News Agency reported April 19 that Reverend Dei Awuku, executive director
of Families Together, Ghana, urged Ghanaians to treasure the extended family system as an important support system for building strong and cohesive families and nation. Rev. Awuku was speaking at a workshop to help strengthen the role of men in building healthy families. It was jointly organized by Families Together Ghana and Ark Foundation Ghana and sponsored by UNFPA. Read: Ghana News Agency

INDIA: Justice Urged for Violators of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act

Times of India reported April 24 that Chief Justice Y. R. Meena of Gujarat High Court said: “Female feticide is not just the elimination of girls from society. It is equivalent to murder. When such cases come to court, it is the court’s duty to help in achieving the objective of the PC PNDT Act.” The story noted that Justice Meena was addressing the first ever judicial colloquium on PC PNDT Act, which was jointly organized by the state health department, Gujarat High Court, Gujarat State Judicial Academy and UNFPA. UNFPA acting Country Representative in India, Ena Singh, said that female feticide has become more than a social evil in many states of the country, including Gujarat. “Saving the girl child is a national emergency now. The society is in a crisis.” Read: Times of India

INDIA: Mumbai Has Lowest Sex Ratio

UNI reported April 22 that Mumbai has the lowest child sex ratio of 898 to 1,000 boys, ages 0-6 years. UNFPA Program Officer Anuja Gulati, said in 1991, a large number of districts falling in central and southern Maharashtra stretching from Jalgaon to Kolhapur had a child sex ratio of less than 950 girls to 1,000 boys. Read: UNI

JORDAN: Princes Basma Meets with UNFPA Executive Director

Jordan Times reported April 29 that HRH Princess Basma was one of four judges brought together by the United Nations Development Program earlier this month to select the winners for 2007 Human Development Awards. The story also noted that during her two-day visit to U.N. headquarters in New York, Princess Basma met with UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid to discuss the importance of promoting women's reproductive health in Jordan and the Middle East, and encouraging young people to adopt healthy life styles. Read: Jordan Times 

LATIN AMERICA: IV Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS and STIs

Numerous media reports came out of the UNFPA-supported IV Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS and STIs in Buenos Aires. Telam reported April 18 that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has grown among women partly because of the gender inequalities that exist in the region. The article noted that the spread of the virus is also related to the violence that is suffered by many women in the region. The news coverage included quotes by UNFPA’s Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Marcela Suazo and UNFPA HIV/AIDS Prevention Adviser Raquel Child. Read: Argenpress, Clarin, Agencia Nova, Voltairenet, Telam, CIMAC: April 17a, April 17b, Proceso, Semana, El Periódico, PPN, ABC Color, El Comercio, El Porvenir

MALAWI: UNFPA Hands Over  900,000 Textbooks

The Daily Times reported April 18 that UNFPA handed over 900,000 Life Skills Education (LSE) textbooks to the Ministry of Education through Malawi Institute of Education at Domasi in Zomba. Speaking during the handover function, Esperance Fundira, UNFPA representative  said most young people are HIV free and investing in LSE is one of the best ways to ensure a generation free of HIV. “According to statistics obtained in 2004, six percent of young people aged between 15 and 24 years are infected with HIV/Aids. This implies that most young people are HIV negative,” said Fundira. She said the use of the LSE materials would enable pupils to be equipped with the necessary skills to avoid HIV infection and sexually related health problems, especially teenage pregnancies. “LSE has the potential to impart knowledge and skills on HIV which is the first step to behavioural change. With no vaccine in sight, prevention remains the best strategy in the fight against HIV,” said Fundira.

MOLDOVA: Moldavian Women  Suffer Domestic Violence

The Right of Choice reported April 24 that one in four woman in Moldova suffers domestic violence. These figures are the result of research supported by UNFPA, USAID and UNICEF. Read: The Right of Choice/Ru

NEPAL: Media Drive against Uterine Prolapse Begins

Rising Nepal reported April 27 that a media campaign on uterine prolapse was launched to raise awareness of the issue. The media should play an active role in spreading information and awareness about prolapse to the people the Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) said. An information kit on prolapse prepared for media was launched at a function jointly organized by Sancharika Samuha, UNFPA and the MoWCSW. UNFPA Representative Junko Sazaki said women are hiding their problem due to lack of access to information and health care services.   

NIGERIA: Fistula Hospital in Need of Assistance

The Tide reported April 24 that the Fistula  hospital in Uyo is in dire need of assistance to further its safe motherhood program. During a field trip to the hospital, the Assistant Director of Nursing, Flora Bassey, told a team of journalists that the need for assistance became necessary because the hospital was run with non-governmental assistance. The site visit, which took the journalists and other stakeholders to the centre, was part of a 3-day national workshop organized by the News Agency of Nigeria in collaboration with UNFPA. Read: The Tide

NIGERIA: UNFPA to Assist with Translating the National Population Policy

This Day reported April 24 that UNFPA announced it would assist the National Population Commission in translating the National Population Policy into the nation's major languages, namely Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Read: This Day

NIGERIA: Faith-Based Organizations Support Population and Development  

BusinessDay reported April 17 that UNFPA supported a conference involving a network of faith-based organizations titled, “Supporting the Family in Population and Development.” The story noted that Dr. Sumail Sulaiman , read a speech by Sidiki Coulibaly, UNFPA country representative in Nigeria, which noted that the prevalence of HIV infections required "more substantial contributions in promoting the well-being of all families and communities in reducing poverty in the country.”

OMAN: Evaluation of National Population Strategy

Alkhaleej Newspaper reported April 28 that the National Population Committee has organized a preparatory meeting with the purpose of conducting seven studies on issues relevant to population.  Theses studies include areas such as maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity, gender discrimination, education, fertility, youth, labour force and urbanization.   Read:  Alkhaleej/Ar

PACIFIC REGION: Summit on HIV/AIDS

Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association reported April 18 that the Pacific Island Jurisdictions AIDS Action Group (PIJAAG) ended its three-day summit on HIV/AIDS with a groundbreaking meeting between United States and international Pacific-based agencies working in HIV/AIDS. Participants involved in the summit came from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Office of Minority Health, the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, the Asian Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Hawaii’s Life Foundation, the AIDS Education Training Centre, PIJAAG, the AusAID-funded Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS Project, UNFPA, the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation and SPC. Read: Pacific Island Broadcasting Association

PAKISTAN: Obaid on a 3-Day Visit

The Associated Press of Pakistan reported April 25 that UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmad Obaid is scheduled to visit Pakistan on April 26 for a three-day visit. The story noted that Obaid will be accompanied by Mari Simonen, UNFPA deputy executive director, and Sultan Aziz, UNFPA director of Asia and the Pacific Division. In Pakistan, Obaid is meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other ministers of health and population to discuss U.N. reform in Pakistan. Her visit also includes a stop at the Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Hattian Bala, Muzzafarabad where the maternal health unit has been set up as part of UNFPA’s response to the emergency following the 2005 earthquake. Dr. Obaid will also inaugurate the Obstetric Fistula Centre which was established by UNFPA in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences along with the Minister of Health and other government officials. The Pakistan Newswire reported April 27 that during her trip, the UNFPA Executive Director joined Federal Minister for Health, Muhammad Naseer Khan, in inaugurating the Fistula Centre at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. The Centre is established under Ministry of Health and UNFPA’s 7th Country Program. Read: Associated Press of Pakistan, Pak Tribune, Daily Times

Xinhua General News Service reported April 28 that Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the country's population growth rate declined from 3.5 percent in the 1980s to 1.8 percent this year and the government was committed to further reducing it to 1.3 percent per annum by 2020. In talks with UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Aziz said that unplanned growth of population adversely impacted development targets and had several negative consequences on the economy, policy making, human rights situation and the long-term prosperity and progress of the country. Obaid commended the progress made by Pakistan in reducing the rate of population growth.

PHILIPPINES: Alliance Formed to Improve Reproductive Health
Philippine Daily Inquirer reported April 29 that Romeo Dongueto, deputy executive director of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation Inc. (PLCPD), said the Alliance for Choice and Empowerment was formed to keep alive the hope for a better reproductive health program for the country. In a forum, Dongueto said a recent Pulse Asia survey showed that three out of four Filipino voters would support candidates who favored the government’s family planning services. The survey was commissioned by the PLCPD and UNFPA. Read: Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHILIPPINES: Family Planning in the Hands of the People  
Manila Bulletin ran an April 24 opinion piece by Hern P. Zenarosa questioning Senator Ralph Recto’s statement that the government has allocated P150million for modern family planning and only R1 million for natural family planning methods in the 2007 General Appropriations Act. Zenarosa also mentioned that at the Forum for Family Planning and Development, Suneeta Mukherjee, UNFPA representative in the Philippines, told her audience that the future of family planning in the country "is in your hands."

PHILIPPINES: Survey on the Church and Family Planning

RWANDA: Radio Serial Drama Program Launched

The New Times reported April 17 that Country Representatives of Population Media Centre-Rwanda (PMC-Rwanda) launched a radio drama program, “Umurage Urukwiye.” Population Media Center (PMC-Rwanda) worked in collaboration with UNFPA to develop a radio drama using entertainment education methodologies to effectively address issues related to family planning. Read: The New Times: April 17, April 18

The New Times reported April 21 that according to the information obtained during a survey carried out by Population Media Center, an organization working with UNFPA, 43 per cent of the Rwandan population neither have nor listen to the radio. The editorial concluded: “Let the ministry of information ensure that the 3.4 million Rwandans that neither listen nor own radios also benefit from the globalization process, for if they are left out there, starved of information, then what next?” Read: The New Times

SENEGAL: HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education Efforts

Chicago Tribune (US) reporter Jessica Reaves on April 22 examined efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in Senegal. According to Reaves, government sponsorship of HIV/AIDS prevention and education programs, the involvement of religious leaders, and the country's legalization and regulation of the commercial sex industry are major factors in Senegal's success in fighting the disease. The HIV/AIDS prevalence in Senegal is 0.9%, similar to the HIV/AIDS prevalence of 0.6% in the U.S. and "far lower" than prevalence in many other African countries, Reaves reports. Senegal's Ministry of Education in 1994 with funding from the United Nations Population Fund launched a campaign to introduce information about sex, contraception, health and family planning to children in the country's schools. Since then, the program has expanded to provide peer counseling and sponsors family life education clubs in schools.

SINGAPORE: Caring for the Ageing Population

New Straits Times reported April 22 that in Singapore, under the 1995 Maintenance of Parents Act, anyone who is 60 years or older and unable to adequately care for themselves can apply to the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents to have one or more of their children pay for their care. According to UNFPA, Singapore has one of the fastest growing proportions of older people in the region between 1975 and 2000, a yearly increase of 4.2 percent. The story noted that UNFPA’s Papers in Population Ageing in East and South-east Asia: Current Situation and Emerging Challenges noted that in 1984, an Inter-Ministerial Population Committee was set up, and in 1988, the National Advisory Council on the Aged was formed to undertake a comprehensive review of the status of ageing in Singapore. Read: New Straits Times

SYRIA: UNFPA Representative: "Major Achievements at the Country Level"

Baladna reported April 25 that UNFPA  is the primary international source for financial assistance to implement programmes related to population and reproductive health in cooperation with governments and non-governmental organizations, with the support of the international community from more than 180 countries around the world.  UNFPA assistance to developing countries, since its foundation in 1969, exceeded six billions dollars.  Regarding UNFPA's work in Syria and the most strategic initiatives that was implemented in cooperation with the national stakeholders, Baladna newspaper interviewed UNFPA Syria Representative, Ms. Lina Mousa.  Read:  Baladna Online/Ar

THAILAND: Assistance to Elderly Affected by AIDS

Matichon reported April 18  on a UNFPA supported project – HIV/AIDS and older persons -  in northern Thailand.  UNFPA partners and the local community assist older persons affected by HIV/AIDS in different ways. One example is Mr.Peng, a 67 years old man residing in Mae-orn district.
Mr.Peng lives with his wife and a HIV-infected daughter. Another daughter of his already died from AIDS. Mr.Peng is a farmer, and used to have uncertain
income but after receiving modest assistance from the project, he aquired additional skills and now earn an extra 1,500 Baht a month from fishing,
weaving chairs, planting vegetables and growing livestock. UNFPA’s Programme Associate in Thailand, Viennarat Chuangwiwat, was quoted expressing her hope that  the government would push forward the National AIDS Plan.

UGANDA: Teen Pregnancy

New Vision’s April 24 story on teen pregnancy mentioned UNFPA’s State of World Population Report 2006, which says Uganda has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa.

UGANDA: REACH Project Releases Survey Findings

The Daily Monitor reported April 16 that at the 2006 Female Genital Mutilation workshop, the government and UNFPA-funded Reproductive Educative and Community Health (REACH) Project released a survey that found a radio station and three girls' secondary schools are urgently needed to fight FGM in the Sebei Sub region. Read: The Daily Monitor

UKRAINE: Tina Karol made Forum Shed Some Tears

Komsomolskaya Pravda reported April 17 that during a UNFPA  Forum against AIDS and Drugs taking place in Turkey, the Ukrainian singer Tina Karol gave a very moving speech about the problem of AIDS and drugs. Ms. Karol is cooperating with UNFPA on social programs in her country. Read: Komsomolskaya Pravda/Ru

UNITED KINGDOM AND CHAD: Dead Mums Don’t Cry Show Inspires Action

The Western Mail reported April 23 on Angela Gorman’s determination to do something after watching a television program depicting the needless death of pregnant women in Chad. Recently Gorman, a neonatal nurse at University Hospital of Wales, presented a petition to 10 Downing Street calling for aid to be provided for more nurses, doctors and teachers in some of the world's poorest countries. The story described how Gorman set up Hope for Grace Kodindo Trust and organized 80 healthcare workers to provide health services to the women in Chad. After she returned from her first visit to Chad, she sent an email to acquaintances who were interested in the project to let them know what had been done. The story noted that one of the recipients was a UNFPA sub-Sahara African adviser who forwarded it around the U.N. More than 56,000 signatures were collected by many groups, including Voluntary Service Overseas and Oxfam. Read: Western Mail

WEST ASIA: Forum Planned to Promote Adolescent Reproductive Health

The Georgia Times reported April 21 that the European Parliamentary Forum, together with UNFPA and Healthcare and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, will organize the First South Caucasus Annual Youth Reproductive Health and Rights Forum. The Forum will promote dialogue among the stakeholders from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and their counterparts from the EU to discuss and work out strategies to improve the sexual and reproductive health of young people in the region.

The three-day forum will be conducted in the framework of the EC/UNFPA co-funded project Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in the South Caucasus. Read: The Georgia Times

YEMEN: Population and RH Messages Increasingly Diffused through Mass Media

Al-Thawra reported April 23 that with the support of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, the General Programme of Media and Communication on population and reproductive health issues at the Ministry of Information, last year was able to distribute 398 hours of programming, through television channels, radio broadcasting, electronic media, plays, reports, encounters, and documentaries. This represnts a huge increase since 2001, with only two hours of programming. The programme has received letters of appreciation from Hans Obdeijn, UNFPA representative, on this achievement. Read: Althawranews/Ar

YEMEN: Minister of Human Rights Meets with UNFPA Representative

Al-Thawra reported April 18 that the Minister of Human Rights met with Mr. Hans Obdeijn, the representative of UNFPA in Yemen. The Minister explained the role of the Ministry in promoting human rights in Yemen and commended the work that UNFPA is doing in promoting health rights and raising awareness on population issues. The Minister also stressed the importance of future cooperation between the Ministry and UNFPA to coordinate their priorities for social development.  Read: Althawranews/Ar

YEMEN: UNFPA Cooperation with Ministry of Education

Al-Thawra reported April 16 that the Minister of Education, Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Jawfi, discussed during his meeting with Mr. Hans Obdeijn, UNFPA representative in Sana’a, their cooperation in the area of education.  They also discussed the programme that UNFPA is supporting in a number of governorates in Yemen and the achievements so far. During the meeting, the minister commended UNFPA efforts in supporting population issues, particularly, in the areas pertinent to education. Read: Althawranews/Ar 

ZIMBABWE: Maternal and Newborn Health Survey Scheduled

The Herald reported April 25 that at the launch of the revised "Mother's Antenatal Care and Follow-up Card," the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare will launch a nine-month maternal and newborn health study in May. Speaking at the same occasion, UNFPA Assistant Representative in Zimbabwe, Gift Malunga, standing in for UNFPA’s Country Representative Dr. Bruce Campbell, said the United Nations was still greatly concerned by the magnitude of maternal mortality. Read: The Herald

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