UNFPA IN THE NEWS — MAY 28-JUNE 10, 2007
U.N. POPULATION AWARDS PRESENTED
UN News Centre reported June 7 that four laureates – Dr. Hossein Malek Afzail of Iran, Allan Rosenfield of the United States, Le Comité National de Population of Algeria, and the National Population and Family Development Board of Malaysia – received the United Nations Population Award. “Today, we celebrate outstanding contributions to the awareness of population questions or to their solutions,” Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told participants. “And we recognize individuals and institutions who, through their work and achievements, are at the forefront of human progress and development,” she added. This year for the first time in its 17-year history, the award is being bestowed upon four laureates – selected by the Population Award Committee, which is administered by UNFPA and comprises 10 Member States elected by the Economic and Social Council. Read: UN News Centre, Malaysia Star, Press TV
KENYA TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN AND AIDS
Xinhua General News Service reported June 6 that Kenya is set to hold an international conference on women and AIDS, "The International Women's Summit on Women's Leadership and HIV and AIDS," from July 4 to 7. The conference will bring together over 1,500 people, ranging from high level policymakers, celebrities and global leaders to community health workers and AIDS activists. The summit is being convened with the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, and has the support of the UNAIDS Global Coalition on Women and AIDS and UNFPA.
AFGHANISTAN: Opium Abuse Harming Women and Children’s Health
IRIN reported May 29 on the harm opium abuse causes women and children’s health. The story quoted a health worker in Badakhshan as explaining many such children suffer from acute respiratory diseases caused by frequent exposure to opium smoke. With some 1,600 mothers dying per 100,000 births, Afghanistan has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world, officials at the UNFPA office in Kabul said. In Badakhshan, 6,500 mothers out 100,000 die while giving birth. Women who consume opium during pregnancy lose much of their energy and become vulnerable to different diseases, the provincial health department reported. Health workers say some addicted mothers also lose the chance of a future pregnancy because opium addiction damages their uterus. Read: IRIN
BRAZIL: Youth Participates in Junior 8 Summit
Brazil Arab News Agencyreported May 31 on Fernanda Winter, 17 years old, the first Brazilian to participate in the Junior 8 Summit (J8) in Germany from June 1-8. During the event, 74 adolescents from many different countries will discuss proposals and solutions to problems that affect and violate the rights of children and adolescents throughout the world. Fernanda was chosen by UNICEF to participate in the J8 for her work in a variety of activities, including the advisory committee for the Health and Prevention Program in Schools (SPE). SPE is an initiative of the Ministry of Health, by means of the National Program of STDs and AIDS, of the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, UNESCO and UNFPA. The program promotes integration between municipal and state-level health and education services, and favors school as a space for articulating prevention policies to adolescents and youths. Read: Brazil Arab News Agency
CAMEROON: UNFPA Official Explains the Significance of Demographic Findings
The Post reported June 7 that UNFPA Resident Representative Faustin Yao said demographic statistics constitute the basis for any development initiative and planning in any country. According to Yao, no socio-economic development initiative can be successful if it is not hinged on population figures. "It is population figures that determine where government should build schools, hospitals and create other social facilities," he stated. Read: The Post
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Public Youth Policies
El Nuevo Diario reported June 6 that Secretary of Youth Manuel Crespo emphasized the importance of a ten-year work plan for public policies for youth. Crespo inaugurated an educational workshop supported by UNFPA and other organizations. Read: El Nuevo Diario
ETHIOPIA: Migration of Doctors Leaves Some Hospitals without a Doctor
Nazret reported June 4 that as the number of doctors joining private hospitals and migrating to the developed nations increases, some government hospitals have virtually no doctor. According to UNFPA’s 2006 State of World Population report on migration, providing improved social and economic conditions in the sending countries is believed to minimize factors that make people leave their countries in search of self-improvement. Read: Nazret
ETHIOPIA: Population Census Begins
Associated Press reported May 29 that Ethiopia began its population census. The story noted that taking population counts in African countries has long been difficult. UNFPA's 2006 report estimates Ethiopia has 79.3 million people, ahead of Egypt with 75.4 million people. The most populous country in Africa is Nigeria, with 134.4 million people. Read: Associated Press
GAMBIA: New Country Program of Action Plan Signed
The Daily Observer reported June 7 that the Gambian government and UNFPA signed the new Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) 2007-2011 and the annual World Plans with the various implementing partners. The CPAP is a new five-year, $5.5 million cooperation agreement for the sixth cycle of UNFPA assistance to the National Population, which comprises three components namely; reproductive health, population and development and gender. Suzanne Maiga-Konate, UNFPA country director, said the new program has been developed based on the Common Country Assessment and United Nations Development Assistance Framework in Gambia in conformity with the MDGs and national priorities reflected in Vision 2020. Read: The Daily Observer, FOROYAA
GUATEMALA: Women Demand More Spaces in Policy
Prensa Libre, Siglo XXI, El Comercio (Perú), Univisión, Radio Cooperativa (Chile), Radio Emisora Unidas reported June 7 that the number of women in elected political posts in Guatemala is the lowest in the region at 2.7 percent. El Salvador is the second lowest, with 7 percent. UNFPA encouraged political parties to include more women among their candidates. “It is not a democracy if everybody is not included”, said UNFPA Representative in Guatemala Nadine Gasman. Read: Prensa Libre, Siglo XXI , El Comercio (Perú), Univisión, Radio Cooperativa (Chile) , Radio Emisoras Unidas
GUYANA: Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition Applaud UNFPA
Stabroek News ran a May 29 letter by Juanita Altenberg and Dr. Robert Carr Co-Chairs of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition and Veronica S. P. Cenac Attorney-at-Law and CVC Board Member to acknowledge the commitment of development partners. They wrote, “The CVC further acknowledges the commitment of organizations like UNFPA and PANCAP to facilitate free and open discussion and meaningful participation of civil society, as we continue the fight against HIV and AIDS and the stigma and discrimination suffered by people living with the disease, and the more vulnerable populations among us.” Read: Stabroek News
INDIA: UNFPA Advisor Warns of Gender Imbalance
Times of India reported June 10 that at the second International Women’s Conference at the Art of Living International Centre, Urmila Bendre, UNFPA adviser on gender and community in India, said, “Sex ratio at birth is falling in all states. Punjab has lower sex ratio due to sex-selective abortions.” Bendre added: “Even parts of Delhi show a fall in ratio — 850 females for every 1,000 males. It’s a matter of economics to the family as they worry about dowry for a daughter, while they believe sons take care of them for life.” Read: Times of India
JORDAN: MoU Signed with MACRO International, UNFPA and USAID
Jordanian News Agency reported June 9 that the General Statistics Department (GSD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MACRO International, UNFPA, and USAID. According to the MoU, GSD will carry a comprehensive survey on population and family health in Jordan in 2007. The survey aims to provide data on fertility rates, deaths, medical care for children and mothers in addition to other information related to family planning and evaluating the different medical programs in the kingdom.
MADAGASCAR: Sorry State of Maternal Health
L'Express reported May 30 that the situation for maternal and newborn health is dire in many rural communities. As an example, the newspaper describes how in the district of Anjozorobe, 95 kilometers from the capital, the only existing health facility has only one doctor and one nurse's aide and hardly any equipment at all. At a recent visit there, UNFPA representative Benot Kalassa, promised that the Fund would help equip and strenghten the facility. Read: L'Express
MALAYSIA: Family Planning Priority Lessens and Population Decrease Slows
The New Straits Times reported June 4 that despite being known in the past as a model of slowing population growth, Indonesia is now straining to meet the demands of its booming populace, with unemployment growing and resources being overstretched. “Population growth rate is still declining but not as fast as before,” said Richard Joanes Makalew, national program officer on population and development strategies for UNFPA. Many local governments do not regard family planning as a priority and, therefore, allocate little to it. Macalew said: "Local governments prioritize physical development, things which are visible to the people, like buildings, to boost their chances of being re-elected. In the past, the National Family Planning Agency was a department which stood on its own. Now, it has been merged with other local government departments, reflecting the low priority accorded to it,“ Isaid Macalew. Read: New Straits Times
MIDDLE EAST: Conference Held to Discuss Female Genital Mutilation
Yemen Observer reported June 4 that a 15-year old girl died on her wedding day because the groom returned her to her family after discovering that the bride hadn’t undergone female genital mutilation, Ramziah al-Eryani, Chairwoman of the Yemen Women’s Union, said at a conference to discuss violence against girls. The conference focused on Somalia, Egypt, Oman, Djibouti, and Yemen, and was attended by Minister of Human Rights Dr. Huda Alban, the Minister for Women and Development in the Republic of Somalia, Amina Mursal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Araw al-Rabia, and Abdu al-Karim form UNFPA. Read: Yemen Observer
Yemen Times reported May 29 that at regional conference to discuss violence against women particularly the physical violence acted during girls' circumcision as well as early marriage and deprivation of education, UNFPA Programme Officer Sawsan Al-Rif'ei stressed that the agency does not accept the violence directed to women and girls, maintaining they work with partners to prevent violence against women. "We consider female circumcision to be a form of violence against girls as it leaves physical and psychological effects on them," said Al-Rif'ei. Read: Yemen Times
MOROCCO: Morocco and UNFPA Sign Partnership Agreement
Xinhua General News Service reported June 6 that Morocco’s health ministry and the UNFPA signed a partnership agreement for the 2007-2011 period aimed at improving health of women and youth. This new agreement will specifically focus on two new Moroccan regions of Meknes Tafilalt and Gharb Chrarda Bni Hssen, in addition to Marrakech Tensift Al-Haouz and Tadla Azilal that have already benefited from the 2002-2006 program. Read: Xinhua General News Service, Maghreb Arabe Presse
MYANMAR: Preparations for First Census in Two Decades
Associated Press reported June 4 that Myanmar is preparing for its first nationwide census in more than two decades, using upgraded computer systems. According to The Myanmar Times, the Immigration and Population Department is receiving monetary and technical assistance from UNFPA in preparing for the census.
NEPAL: Ten Per Cent of Married Women in Nepal Suffer from Uterine Prolapse
Xinhua General News Service reported June 2 that a survey conducted by international organizations revealed 10 percent of married Nepali women are suffering from uterine prolapse. The survey says 200,000 women out of 600,000 women of reproductive age suffering from uterine prolapse need immediate treatment. The survey was done by the World Health Organization, UNFPA and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Nepal. Dr. Rajni K.C. of UNFPA claimed although the percentage might seem small, Nepali women are facing discrimination due to the malady. Read: Xinhua General News Service
NETHERLANDS: UNFPA Executive Director Calls Herself a "Lucky Woman"
Nederlands Dagblad on June 1 carried an interview with UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, where she discussed the role of UNFPA's programme in China and the US position thereon, the consequences of unsafe abortion, the role of women, as well as the discussions with the Netherlands Government : " Now that there is a new Government, it is important to strengthen our contacts. The Netherlands is a prominent member of the UN and the EU. The support from the Netherlands is not only financial, but also moral and political", said Ms Obaid. She also explained why she is so engaged with her work : "The main reason is that I was lucky as a woman. I grew up in a conservative, islamic society and I am still a practising muslim. Thanks to my father, who thought about the meaning of Islam and how Islam can stimulate the education of women, I have become who I am. I feel the need to help women who did not have the chance that I have had. I do not want to be a role model, but I hope that women appreciate my responsibility to help others," she said.
NORTH KOREA: Release of Audit on U.N. Operations Reveal Irregularities
The Wall Street Journal ran a June 4 editorial on the release of the “much-awaited” audit on United Nations operations in North Korea. The editorial noted: “Even given the limited scope of their investigations, however, the auditors were able to confirm the massive irregularities in the UNDP's operations in North Korea. The auditors also found violations at three other agencies – UNICEF, UNFPA and the U.N. Office for Project Services.” Read: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Sun
NORTH KOREA: Audit of U.N. Operations Finds No Diversion of Funding
Agence France-Presse reported June 2 that an audit of operations of three U.N. agencies in North Korea has found no proof of U.S. charges of systematic diversion of large-scale UN funding to the Pyongyang regime, said the U.N. The audit said, however, that U.N. Chief Ban Ki-moon expected the agencies (UNDP, UNICEF and UNPF) “to act upon the findings in the audit as quickly and transparently as possible." Read: UN News Service, Yonhap, Associated Press, Kyodo News Service
OMAN: World No Tobacco Day Observed
The Times of Oman reported June 3 that the World No Tobacco Day was celebrated at Wadi bani Khaled under the auspices of Salem bin Humood bin Amer Al Maliki, member of Majlis Al Shura. As part of the May 31 celebration, a series of events were held to promote the day, and educate the youth on the hazards of smoking in Wadi bani Khaled. With the help of UNFPA, four workshops were conducted in order to educate teens on the bad effects of smoking. Read: Times of Oman
PAKISTAN: Enabling Youth to Help in the National Development Process
Business Recorder reported June 2 that Provincial Population Welfare Minister Naseem Lodhi said that All Pakistan Youth Federation would help 80 million youth in the country to play an active role in the national development process. She was addressing the Punjab Youth Assembly sponsored by UNPFA in collaboration with Punjab AIDS Consortium.
PHILIPPINES: Cost-Effective Interventions to Cut Maternal Death Rates
Manila Standard reported June 6 that maternal mortality has been the silent tsunami in the Philippines, a disaster that is more often taken for granted, said UNFPA Representative in the Philippines Suneeta Mukherjee. In the Philippines, 10 mothers die every day due to childbirth and pregnancy related causes and for every woman who dies, around 30 others survive but suffer debilitating injuries such as obstetric fistula, infertility and depression. UNFPA suggested three pillars of safe motherhood that are cost-effective interventions that would cut down maternal deaths that include: 1) access to family planning 2) skilled attendance at birth, and 3) access to emergency obstetric care.
Manila Bulletin’s June 7 story mentioned that one cost-effective intervention that can cut down maternal deaths is access to emergency obstetric care which can greatly reduce life-threatening delays. At present, the Department of Health, with the assistance from UNFPA, UNICEF, JICA, and Plan International, is in the initial stages of training health professionals for emergency obstetric care; to date, some 90 emergency teams have been trained with each team composed of a doctor, a nurse, and a midwife.
PHILIPPINES: Study Finds No Significant Difference in Maternal Mortality Rate
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported June 2 that Dr. Hendry Plaza, UNFPA program coordinator, said a study on maternal mortality rate in the Philippines had shown no significant difference in the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births from 1990 to 2000. Plaza said that based on the U.N. development goal, mortality must be reduced to 50 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2015. Ill reproductive health during a crisis situation can be called a disaster multiplied by two, according to U.N. Resident Coordinator and UNFPA Country Representative Suneeta Mukherjee. Mukherjee led the UNFPA delegation who visited the area to see the reproductive health needs of typhoon-displaced victims in Bicol. UNFPA turned over to the provincial government 2,500 hygiene kits and 41 reproductive health kits intended for trained health workers of local government units in Camarines Sur. Read: Philippine Daily Inquirer
RWANDA: Partnership for Family Health Services
The New Times reported June 2 on the Twubakane Decentralization and Health Program partnership between the USAID and Rwanda’s Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Health. According to Laura Hoemneke, Twubakane's coordinator, the program's overall goal is to increase access to the quality and utilization of family health services in health facilities and communities by strengthening the capacity of local governments and communities to ensure improved health service delivery at the decentralized levels. Hoemneke said that three key partners such as UNFPA, IntraHealth actions and the Twubakane Program agreed to sponsor three rounds of trainings in 2007 in all 30 districts. Read: The New Times
SIERRA LEONE: Country Program Formulated
The New Citizen reported May 30 that about 40 participants took part in the five-day deliberations that include key program and project managers in population and development, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS and IPS, selected District Medical Officers, UNFPA Country Program Officers, other U.N. agencies, national consultants and Country Support Team Advisers from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. UNFPA Country Representative Barnabas Yisa commended partners for attending the fourth country program for Sierra Leone 2008-2010. In addition, Mariama Diarra, assistant UNFPA country representative, informed participants about the objectives of the meeting. Read: The New Citizen
SUDAN: Maternal Mortality Higher in the South
Reuters reported June 7 that the rates of pregnancy-related deaths in south Sudan are among the highest in the world, said UNFPA Representative in South Sudan Dragudi Buwa. "Rates are actually at 2,030 per 100,000 births," Buwa said. In north Sudan, rates of maternal mortality are 509 deaths per 100,000 births, according to the United Nations. A lack of trained midwives, coupled with high rates of early marriage and pregnancy and a lack of health facilities and medical advice was responsible for the large number of pregnancy-related deaths, Buwa said. Read: Reuters
SWAZILAND: HIV/AIDS Orphans Educated in Farming to Keep Their Land
IRIN reported May 29 on a new program launched by WFP to teach HIV/AIDS orphans in Swaziland to help themselves. Through the Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools program, "we are targeting orphans and vulnerable children, teaching them agricultural projects, life skills, and general maintenance of self," said WFP Program Director Andrew Ngwenya. The story noted that UNICEF, UNFPA and the Ministry of Agriculture also contribute to the program. Read: IRIN
SWAZILAND: Youth Attend Theater Workshop
Times of Swaziland reported May 31 that 30 youth from Shiselweni attended a theater training as a part of activities focused on HIV-prevention. UNFPA Representative Aisha Camara-Drammeh said Swaziland youth face challenges of unemployment, HIV and other social ills. Camara-Drammeh said: “UNFPA together with the Swaziland National Youth Council and other partners are engaged in equipping young people with the skills that will empower them. We believe this will be one way of ensuring that young men and women are empowered to take an active role in sexual and reproductive health issues.”
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Former UNFPA Staff Managing Queen’s Hall
The Express reported June 9 on Yvonne Roberts-White’s most recent appointment as the manager of the Queen's Hall. The story mentioned her marketing, management and communications experience in sexual and reproductive health at the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago, which led to stints working in HIV/AIDS with the UNFPA and CAREC. Read: The Express
UGANDA: Country Encouraged to Adopt Family Planning
New Vision featured a June 7 op ed by UNFPA Deputy Representative Dr. Hassan Mohtashami who wrote on Uganda’s potential to reap the benefits of family planning. Mohtashami noted the latest figure for maternal mortality ratio is 435 deaths per 100,000 live births and only 23.7 per cent of women use contraceptive methods. These figures clearly indicate the urgency of addressing the needs for family planning programs. This requires extensive community mobilization, political support, increased funding for family planning programs, massive expansion of services and increased availability and accessibility of various contraceptive methods. Read: New Vision
UNITED STATES: Democrats Predicted to Repeal Abortion Restrictions
The Hill reported June 5 that Republican opponents of abortion rights expect Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee to alter or repeal several longstanding policy measures restricting federal funding of abortion when the panel marks up legislation over the next two weeks. One of the two restrictions ban federal funding of entities that participate in coercive abortion programs. The provision, known as Kemp-Kasten after its House sponsors, gave President George Bush grounds to halt funding for UNFPA. A lobbyist said the Kemp-Kasten provision could be modified to require evidence that the UNFPA and similar groups are participating in coercive abortion programs and not merely working in a country with “a bad population program.” Read: The Hill, Women’s Enews
UNITED STATES: Support Called for the PATHWAY Act
The Journal News ran a May 29 opinion piece by social worker Megan Haseltine who wrote on her experiences in seeing married women as unlikely targets for HIV/AIDS because they are often denied and discouraged from using safe contraceptives, talking about infidelity with their partners and may engage in forced sex. She noted that according to UNFPA, 80 percent of HIV infections among women in Africa result from sex with their husbands or primary partners. In her opinion piece, she called for support of the Protection against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth (PATHWAY) Act, introduced this March, which removes the one-third requirement and enables the money to be spent on programs that correlate with the face of the infected populations.
URUGUAY: President to Initiate National Dialogue on Social Security
La República reported June 4 thatPresident Tabaré Vázquez’s inauguration begins with a National Dialogue on Social Security to find methods to generate resources for future reforms. Government agencies and international organizations including UNFPA are involved in the process. Read: La República
ZAMBIA: UNFPA Asks Government to Invest in Reproductive Health
Saturday Post reported June 9 that UNFPA representative Deji Popoola has called on the government and its partners to invest in reproductive health as an urgen priority. Prsenting helath equipment worth US$ 24,000 to the North Western Province Permanent Secretary Richard Salivaji, Mr. Popoola said that complications from pregnancy and childbirth were the leading cause of death among young women aged 15 to 19 years. "With cost-effective interventions, most women's lives could be saved," he said.
ZAMBIA: "Check Rise of HIV/AIDS in the West", says UNFPA
Times of Zambia reported June 9 that UNFPA said the rise in prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Western Province is due to the opening of the mines in the area. Country representative Mr. Deji Popoola said authorities should take measures to check the rise in the province, which once had the lowest prevalence in the country. The projected prevalence in the province is 7.9 per cent in 2007.
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