MADAGASCAR: Presentation of the Results of the EmoC Need Assessment
Midi Madagasikara reported on 31 March that in an attempt to reduce maternal mortality through EmoC services, UNFPA financed a study to determine the availability, distribution and quality of service offered to pregnant women. Read: Midi Madagasikara
MADAGASCAR: Presentation of Results of EMoC Needs Assessment
Midi Madagasikara reported on 31 March that in an attempt to reduce maternal mortality through EmoC services, the UNFPA country office financed a study to determine the availability, distribution and quality of service offered to pregnant women. Read: Midi Madagasikara
TUNISIA: Women, Politics, Media and Communication: Discrimination, Segregation and Stereotypes?
Le Temps and Tunis Afrique Presse Agency reported on 31 March on an awareness workshop organized in Hammamet targeting female politicians and journalists on "Women, Politics, Media and Communication." The session aimed to mainstream gender in media organs, particularly regarding political participation. It was part of a project financed by the Spanish government, "Enhancing Women's Leadership and Participation in Political Life and Decision-Making in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia." The training session was held by UN-INSTRAW and CAWTAR, with the support of the United Nations Information Centre in Tunis, UNFPA and UNIFEM. Read in French: Le Temps and Tunis Afrique Presse Agency
OMAN: UNFPA and Oman Sign Cooperation Agreement
Right Vision News and The Times of Oman reported on 31 March that the Government of the Sultanate and UNFPA signed a cooperation agreement annex. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Sultanate's government by Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, National Economy Minister and Deputy Chairman of Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, while Dr Hafidh Chekir, UNFPA Regional Director of the Arab States Regional Office, signed on behalf of UNFPA. The agreement comes within the framework of strategic partnership between the Government of the Sultanate and the UN. The agreement's documents were last signed between the Government of the Sultanate and the UNFPA in March 2006. Read: Right Vision News and Times of Oman
VENEZUELA: Results of First Demographic Survey To Be Released
Reporte 360 reported on 30 March that The National Statistics Institute (INE), with support from the United Nations System in Venezuela, under the technical coordination of UNFPA, would present the initial results of the first Demographic Survey of Venezuela (Endeve) 2010 in June and the official results will be published at the end of the year.
RWANDA: Nation, UN to Accelerate Progress toward MDGs
The New Times reported on 30 March that President Paul Kagame received a visiting delegation of the UN at Urugwiro Village where they held discussions regarding Rwanda's progress towards achieving the MDGs. The delegation was led by Abderrahim Ould Hadrami, Mauritania's Permanent Representative to the UN. According to the UN Resident Coordinator, Aurélien Agbénonci, the 25-member executive board that comprises of main UN Agencies - UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP came to see the progress and get an insight on the quality of work the country does with One UN. Read: The New Times
NIGERIA: UNFPA Restates Commitment to Eradicate Malaria
The Daily Independent reported on 30 March that UNFPA has reiterated its determination to provide adequate facilities to reduce maternal mortality in Ogun State. A statement by the spokesperson of Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Waliat Odemakin, in Abeokuta quoted UNFPA country representative Agathe Lawson as saying so during a tour to health facilities in the state. Read: Daily Independent
MALAWI: UNFPA Promotes Female Condoms
The Daily Times reported on 30 March that as part of a workshop for journalists held recently in Zambia, UNFPA National Condom Programming Coordinator Sandra Mapemba discussed UNFPA’s use of female condoms in its efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. Ms. Mapemba noted that challenges persist, thanks in part to “a lack of targeted condom promotion which also addresses socio-cultural, political, economic and structural barriers faced by different groups, such as married women and men who have sex with other men, discordant couples and others.”
TAJIKISTAN: 2010 Population and Housing Census
Khovar reported on 30 March that UNFPA in Tajikistan continues its efforts to strengthen national capacity in demography through support to the Statistical Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and other institutions involved in carrying out the 2010 Population and Housing Census. A one-day training, supported by UNFPA, for representatives of 8 ministries and governmental institutions of Tajikistan on conduction of the census in closed type institutions, validation, confidentiality of collected information and calculation of census information was recently held. The aim of the training was to strengthen the capacity of specialists on the given issue. Read: Khovar
ANGOLA: Maternity Hospitals Get Equipment from UNFPA
Angola Press reported on 30 March that Angola's Ministry of Health received equipment for maternity hospitals in rural areas, Angop witnessed. The donation came from UNFPA and comprises tables for gynecological exams, beds, incubators, microscopes and other equipment. The material was handed over by the UNFPA representative to Angola, Kourtoum Nacro, who said other material comprise one million female and male condoms. Read: Angola Press
AFGHANISTAN: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Signs Agreement on Health and Social Development
Afghanistan Times reported on 30 March that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a $38.8 million agreement with UNFPA on the development of health and social affairs. The money will go to health, gender equality, assessment if population statistics and the provision of clean drinking water for schoolchildren in the provinces of Banyan, Faryab and Daikundi.
GLOBAL: Fleeing Disaster Can Be a Good Thing
IRIN reported on 30 March that some countries have begun turning the displacement that follows natural disasters into a positive learning experience by providing such migrants with temporary work permits to help them earn an income and acquire skills, making them more resilient when they return home. Colombia has come up with an interesting alternative: in 2006, when the Galeras volcano in southwest Colombia erupted, the government set up a programme allowing several thousand affected people temporary migration to Spain, where they earned an income, mostly through agricultural work, for a period of six months, the UNFPA noted in its recent annual report. "Since then the programme has been expanded to include people in rural communities, where crops and land are vulnerable to floods and other natural disasters," UNFPA said. Read: IRIN
OMAN: UNFPA Hailed for Data on Population, Family Health
The Oman Tribune reported on 29 March that the Gulf informative meeting on the Semi Regional Office for UNFPA, organised by the technical office for the National Committee on Population, in collaboration with the GCC Secretariat-General, began in Muscat on 28 March. The two-day meeting came as part of the implementation of the decision of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Planning and Development on holding a Gulf meeting in Muscat to benefit from the Semi Regional Office for UNFPA and discuss the aspects of cooperation between the fund and the GCC countries and activating the role of the semi regional office in all GCC countries. Read: Oman Tribune
SWAZILAND: Pastors Join Campaign to Reduce Maternal Mortality
Times of Swaziland reported on 29 March on a UNFPA-coordinated training for religious leaders to facilitate workshops as part of the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Swaziland (CARMMS).
PAKISTAN: Saving Lives By Changing Perceptions
The News International reported on 29 March that change is an individual preference, so in order to achieve long-lasting change, people must first change their thinking and way of perceiving things. This was the message of Sheema Kirmani’s troupe who performed at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, for a collaborative project of Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Pakistan (SOGP) and UNFPA. Read: The News International
SIERRA LEONE: First Lady Gives Out Baby Packages & Says No Woman Should Die While Giving Life
Awoko reported on 29 March that Sierra Leones' first lady Sia Nyama Koroma has designated 27 March as “Safe Motherhood Day” and said no woman should die while giving life. She was speaking at the launching of the Campaign for the Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality Africa (CARMMA) in Sierra Leone at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) in Freetown. UNFPA Africa Regional Director, Bunmi Makinwa stated that the launching clearly gives indications of the political commitment at the highest level and demonstration of the leadership to meet one of the key challenges of the MDGs and the national development goals- the acceleration of maternal mortality. Read: Awoko
SIERRA LEONE: Free Health Care Boost – U.S. $7 Million Drugs for Salone
Africa News reported on 29 March that the UK government, through DFID, has funded the procurement of medicines and medical consumables worth $7 million to boost Sierra Leone's Free Health Care initiative to be launched on Independence day, 27 April. The Ministry of Health and Sanitation is collaborating with UNICEF, UK Aid, World Bank, WHO, UNFPA, Save the Children, Search for Common Grounds and civil society organizations to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.
MONGOLIA: UN Provides More Funds As Severe Winter Continues
UN News Centre reported on 29 March that the United Nations has allocated $3.7 million in emergency funding to support UN agencies in Mongolia as they try to assist more than half a million people suffering from the combined effects of a long, severe winter and a preceding harsh summer drought. $227,000 was allocated to UNFPA for emergency reproductive health support for 7,000 pregnant women, lactating mothers and other vulnerable women of reproductive age. Read: UN News Centre
BRAZIL: Senator Calls for Education Investment
180graus reported on 29 March that Senator João Vicente Claudino called for massive investments in education throughout the country, quoting a recent UNFPA Brazil study on the perspectives for the Brazilian youth population. He recalled problems faced by such youth, including unemployment and urban violence. Read in Portuguese: 180 Graus
GLOBAL: Family Planning Can Reduce Maternal Deaths by 70 Percent
The New Vision published an op-ed on 28 March by Sharon Camp, President and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute and Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, arguing for increased investment in family planning services in order to reduce maternal mortality. Based on the findings of Adding It Up, a joint Guttmacher/UNFPA report released in 2009, they argued that doubling that modest investment would yield staggering results: a 70% reduction in maternal deaths and a 44% reduction in the deaths of newborns. A host of other additional health, societal and economic benefits would follow. The report documents the interrelationship between family planning and better maternal and newborn health. It demonstrates that providing women with family planning information and services frees up scarce resources that could be used to provide universal access to maternal and newborn care. Read: The New Vision
TANZANIA: Media Workshop Focuses on Advocacy for Family Planning
Mtanzania reported on 28 March on a workshop held for journalists in Dar es Salaam on family planning advocacy. UNFPA Programme Officer on Reproductive Health, Felister Bwana, was among the workshop presenters.
YEMEN: HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign Continues
Newsyemen reported on 27 March that under the slogan "fight HIV/AIDS not HIV patients," HIV/AIDS Project Unit at the National Population Council (NPC) continues an awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS in Taiz. The six-day campaign, which is funded by UNFPA, helps raise community awareness about the disease, especially among students of secondary schools. It also establishes, through direct communication with target audience, the principle of positive living with HIV patients. Read in Arabic: Newsyemen
NIGERIA: Ebonyi Races to Combat Maternal Deaths
The Daily Champion published an analysis on 27 March by Chioma Umeha on efforts to improve maternal health in Ebonyi State. To address the maternal mortality and morbidity issue in the state, the wife of the Governor, Josephine Elechi, championed advocacy on the passage of the Mother and Child Care Initiative (MCCI) and Related Matters law. Agathe Lawson, country representative of UNFPA, was among those attending the ceremony launching the law. Speaking at the event, Ms. Elechi noted that USAID has contributed immensely to improve maternal health care in the state, especially in the area of fistula. USAID and other development partners, especially UNFPA and UNICEF, were thanked for their different contributions to health development.
GABON: UNFPA Spearheads DHS Donor Resource Mobilization Meeting
Gabon Matin reported on 24 and 27 March on a DHS donor meeting hosted by UNFPA Representative David Lawson. UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, UNAIDS, the Global Fund, the African Development Bank and Economy Ministry recommended for the DHS to proceed and for UNFPA to manage it financially. "I salute the Government strong political and financial support to the DHS that should inform the new President's policies and programmes and MDGs monitoring. I also thank the development partners for their swift financial assistance," said Mr. Lawson.
GLOBAL: UNFPA Report Has New Urban Planning Vision
United News of Bangladesh reported on 26 March and Ghana News Agency and UN News Centre reported on 22 March that a new report backed by UNFPA lays out a new vision for urban planning to transform the way cities across the developing world grow. That vision incorporates a flexible building design to allow families to expand their homes upwards by up to three stories. Read: GNA
SIERRA LEONE: UNFPA Africa Regional Director Arrives For Launch Of CARMMA
Standard Times reported on 26 March that Bunmi Makinwa, the Director of the UNFPA Africa Regional Office, who is responsible for the oversight and management of UNFPA's regional policy and programmes and offices in 45 sub-Saharan African countries, arrived in Sierra Leone for the launch of CARMMA. Read: Standard Times
INDONESIA: Public Dialogue Held on Health Law
Kompas reported on 26 March the results of a public dialogue on the new Health Law. The new law, endorsed in October 2009, is an improvement of the Health Law of 1992. During the public dialogue, UNFPA Representative, Dr. Zahidul Huque, commented that explicitly mentioning the words 'sexual health' in the law is already an improvement. Read in Indonesian: Kompas
GABON: UNFPA Awards For Population & Development Journalists Launched
Multiple media outlets reported on 24-26 March on the launching ceremony by Communication Minister, Laure Olga Gondjout, and UNFPA Country Director, David Lawson, of the 1st UNFPA Awards for Journalists on Population and Development. Mr. Lawson stated that "the Awards aim at recognizing the role and competence of journalists as development actors through analytical, stimulating, enlightening qualitative debates and analysis on major pop/dev-related challenges in Gabon." Read in French: Gabonews (25 March - a), Gabonews (25 March - b), Gabonews (24 March) and Gaboneco
BANGLADESH: Call to Launch Three-Year Midwifery Course
Right Vision News reported on 26 March that the concluding ceremony of a regional workshop ended with a call to introduce a three-year midwifery course, similar to nursing courses, to reduce maternal and newborn deaths and morbidity. The five-day workshop was jointly organised by Brac, UNFPA and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICMs).
URUGUAY: Study Finds Concern Over Youth Emigration, Population Aging
Multiple media outlets reported on 24 March - 1 April on the release of the study "Leadership and population policies," conducted by Jaime Mezzera, Pablo Mieres and Dardo Directions Rodriguez for the Rumbos Institute, with support from UNFPA. The study surveyed opinion leaders in a variety of professional fields and sectors of Uruguayan society on population and demographic issues. Read in Spanish: La República, El País, and IPS