ARMENIA: 70 Per Cent Of Women Associate Themselves With A “Crying Face”
Ankakh.com reported on 24 December on a UNFPA-supported survey on domestic violence against women that was conducted among women aged 15-59 from 4720 households throughout the country. It turns out that violence against women is common in Armenia, with violence from the partner being the most frequent. According to data published in UNFPA Armenia’s “Combating Gender Based Violence in South Caucasus” Project, 7.4 per cent of women reported that partners have forced them to quit their jobs, while 8.7 per cent of respondents have mentioned their partners taking their income against their will. Read in Armenian: Ankakh.com.
SRI LANKA: What the Government and Healthcare Providers Owe Patients
The Daily Mirror published an article on 24 December arguing that if Sri Lanka is to succeed in its plan to become a highly developed or wealthy nation, then the government needs to take effective steps to ensure that it is also a healthy nation. UNFPA recently rated Sri Lanka as the best in Asia in terms of curbing infant death rates and related factors. Yet that is only a small step in restoring a health service where the well-being of the patients is given top priority. Read: The Daily Mirror
PAKISTAN: Post-Flood Maternal Child Health Care Project
The Daily Times reported on 24 December that a post-flood maternal child health-care project would be launched in seven districts of Sindh, according to the officials of the National Trust for Population Welfare (NATPOW). Chief Executive Officer of NATPOW Ifikhar Durrani and its Director Programme and Development Dr. Nasser Mohyuddin, held a meeting with Secretary Sindh Population Welfare Department Rizwan Memon, Special Secretary Sindh Health Department Seema Najeeb, Principal Officer President’s Primary Health Initiative Syed Shahid Ali, and Provincial Finance Officer and Administration Manager Sindh Ajmal Memon. The main objective of the meeting was to introduce the NATPOW-UNFPA projects to be launched throughout the country. The officials stated that the first project is a “Post-flood Maternal Child Health Care Project” which will operate in 20 districts of Pakistan. Read: The Daily Times
NIGER: The Niger UNFPA Annual Programme Reviewed for 2009-2010
Le Sahel Dimanche reported on 24 December on the Niger UNFPA Annual Programme review held from 22-23 December in Niamey. Participants were partners from government, UNFPA, and civil society organizations involved in the implementation of the programme. In his speech, the UNFPA Niger Representative Yacine Diallo indicated that the review is an occasion for all participants to appreciate the programme’s progress and identify the best practices, difficulties, lessons learnt. This will help UNFPA Niger Programme to improve its implementation strategies for better results. In the opening speech, the Ministry of Economy and Finance Secretary General Ibrahim Garba appreciated the quality of the cooperation between UNFPA and the Niger Government. He indicated that after two years of the programme implementation, positive results have been recorded in the different domains covered by the UNFPA Programme, namely, the reproductive health, gender equality, human rights and population and development.
GHANA: Central Region Drivers Curb Maternal Deaths
GNA reported on 24 December that the Ghana Health Service has given awards to 34 drivers from transport unions in all the 17 districts who transported women in labour to health facilities during the year. Esther Dua Oyinka, a Coordinator of UNFPA, which sponsors the programme, advised the drivers to report and also to take claim forms from nurses any time they convey a pregnant woman to a health facility in order for them to keep track of the number of women they transport during the year. Read: GNA