SUDAN: Election Problems
Yahoo News reported on 15 April that voting in Sudan's first elections in 24 years came to an end. But the discussion of whether this five-day-long exercise was a legitimate election is just beginning. The article noted that, among the challenges to a fair election was the low level of literacy, particularly among women. 88 percent of women in Sudan are illiterate, according to UNFPA. Read: Yahoo News
GLOBAL: H&M Spearheads HIV/AIDS Campaign
Europa Press reported 15 April that global retailer H&M is spearheading a campaign dedicated to raising funds against AIDS. H&M sell tents, sleeping bags and even folding chairs, for both boys and girls. The funds have been allocated for Designers Against AIDS (DAA), the organization responsible for Fashion Against AIDS. The programme supports YouthAIDS, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and UNFPA. Read in Spanish: Europa Press
NIGERIA: Initiative to Improve Maternal and Child Health
ThisDay reported on 15 April that maternal and infant health remains one of the most worrisome areas of health care delivery in Nigeria. But as the country battles to get its act together in this critical area, a new initiative promises to bring succor to women and children in Lagos state. Speaking on the initiative, the Governor noted that it included the type of continuous integrated primary and secondary care which has been recommended as the integrated maternal, newborn and child strategy (IMNCH) by the partnership for maternal, newborn and child health, which include agencies like WHO, UNFPA, UNAIDS, World Bank, UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Health. Read: ThisDay
MOZAMBIQUE: Struggling To Tackle Maternal Mortality
Zambeze reported on 15 April that the government is still struggling to tackle infant and maternal mortality in Mozambique. In order to properly address this, the paper says, the government should allocate adequate funding. Quoting UNFPA, the paper highlights the importance of investing in girl’s education to guarantee women's empowerment and ultimately influence her decisions on sexual and reproductive health concerns, including access to family planning services.