UNITED STATES/LATIN AMERICA: New AIDS Portal Provides Information in Spanish
The Examiner (United States) reported on 15 June that UNFPA, with the Civil Action for Development Association, created the Website www.jovenesyvih.org to provide Spanish speaking adolescents in South Florida, Latin America and elsewhere to help these youngsters. This specialized portal of information furnishes them with advice on prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. A spokesman for The UNFPA said in a press release that the Website "Youth and HIV"- Health, Sexuality and Rights - opened 11 June in the context of the National School Day for Prevention of HIV / AIDS. Read: The Examiner
TANZANIA/U.K.: Safer Motherhood, Safer World?
The Guardian (U.K.) published a feature on 15 June on maternal health in Tanzania. The piece was submitted as part of a contest for journalists addressing development themes sponsored. The article noted that, although the government has worked with UNFPA to “to strengthen fragmented health systems and equip and staff clinics better, progress towards MDG5 is being undermined by socio-cultural, ethnic and religious norms that, along with financial constraints, prevent women from making positive decisions about their own health.” Read: The Guardian
SWAZILAND: Media Trained on Statistical Date Interpretation
The Swazi Observer reported on 15 June that UNFPA in collaboration with government, department of Central Statistics Office (CSO) has trained journalists and editors on reporting population and development issues. UNFPA Representative Aisha Camara-Drammeh in her opening remarks, acknowledged that the training was organized on at the requests of journalists who participated in a previous workshop and requested specialized training for reporting using statistical data. Camara-Drammeh said the census conducted every 10 years was a very important activity and a primary source of information on the number of characteristics of the population and its housing in each locality and others. Read: The Swazi Observer
PAKISTAN: Gender-Specific Measures Stressed To Control HIV
The News International reported on 15 June that Adviser to Prime Minister on Women Development Yasmeen Rehman has called for collaborative gender specific measures at all levels to control the disease that is fast turning into an epidemic.She was speaking at a meeting held to mark the completion of a project by All Pakistan Women Association (APWA) to address gender and HIV/AIDS. APWA, in collaboration with UNAIDS and UNFPA undertook the project titled ‘Partnership Building with Women’s Organisations and Networks and Development and Implementation of a Strategy for Scaling up of HIV/AIDS Prevention Women in Pakistan.’ Read: The News International
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA Holds Sensitization Workshop On Fistula
Congo-site reported on 15 June on a UNFPA-sponsored sensitization on obstetric fistula, organized jointly by the Social Affairs Ministry and UNFPA. Held one week after the official launch of the Fistula Campaign in Congo, the workshop was aimed at sensitizing health and social personnel to prevent fistula, support women affected by fistula and facilitate their reintegration.The Ministry for Social Affairs takes part in the fistula programme, which is devoted to identifying and bringing women for treatment and to the facilitating their reintegration once treated. Dr. Jeannette Kouangha-Biboussi of UNFPA Country office was the main facilitator of this workshop, which will lead other trainings in various Provinces of the country in an effort to enhance the Fistula Campaign outreach and treatment of a maximum of women. Read in French: Congo-Site
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA And Rotary Congo Sign Cooperation Agreement
Congo-Site and Tele-Congo reported on 15 June on the signing of a cooperation agreement by Rotary Congo President Ms. Claude-Angella Mabassy, and UNFPA Representative, Mr. David Lawson, aimed at strengthening their action primarily on maternal mortality reduction. Mr. Lawson said, "I am pleased that we formalise our cooperation with Rotary Congo and join forces to fight among others this critical public health issue that is maternal mortality" The two institutions will coordinate programme planning, resource mobilization, and advocacy efforts for maternal health. Read in French: Congo-Site and Watch in French: Tele-Congo
MOZAMBIQUE: Workshop on Gender Programmes
TVM and STV reported on 15 June that gender experts met in Quelimane city, in the central province of Zambezia, to take stock of current programmes and discuss the strengthening of UNFPA supported gender equality and women empowerment programmes. Experts from the government, civil society organizations and the UN shared experiences and visited project sites around Zambezia.