TUNISIA: Challenges to Reaching MDG 5
Télévision Nationale Tunisienne I, Hannibal TV and Nessma TV reported on 24, 25 and 26 November on the CARMMA launching in Tunisia. Mr. Hafedh Chekir, UNFPA ASRO Director, highlighted the reduction of maternal mortality challenges in the Arab states to achieve MDG 5 by 2015 and the need to strengthen collaboration with development partners towards the implementation of concrete actions aimed at reducing MNCH morbidity and mortality. Mr. Mohammed Salah Ben Ammar, General Director of Public Health of the Tunisian Republic, indicated that challenges facing Tunisia are related to regional inequalities and access to RH services. H.E. Bience Gawanas, African Union Commission of Social Affairs, recalled that maternal and newborn mortality rates are sensitive indicators of overall health care system performance and can be used to monitor general health gains in the population. However, these deaths pose one of the most serious challenges to achieve the MDG 5 by 2015, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where 1 out of 13 women is at risk of dying from obstetrical causes compared to 1 woman out of 4,000 in high income countries. The UNFPA Assistant Representative in Tunisia, Dr. Leila Joudane, recalled that the Tunisian republic is committed to reduce its maternal mortality ratio (MMR), which is now at 44.8/100,000 to 18.6/100.000 in order to reach the MDG 5 target for MMR. Watch in Arabic: Nessma TV and Hannibal TV
TUNISIA: Sharing Experiences Can Engineer Change
La Presse de Tunisie and Le Temps reported on their respective front pages on 25 and 26 November on the launch of the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) highlighting that maternal and newborn mortality rates are sensitive indicators of overall health care system performance and can be used to monitor general health gains in the population. However, these deaths pose one of the most serious challenges to achieve MDG 5 by 2015, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where 1 out of 13 women is at risk of dying from obstetrical causes compared to 1 woman out of 4,000 in high-income countries.
Tunisia is the first North African country to launch CARMMA with the aim of sharing the country’s experience in reducing maternal mortality with other countries in Africa. This regional conference is an opportunity to build a consensus around approaches and mechanisms of effective and comprehensive South-to-South cooperation in the area of reproductive health and maternal heath programmes. More than 150 participants from 17 countries and international and regional organisations attended the event and the discussions focused on the experiences, challenges and the learned lessons in this field as well as the possibilities provided by the South-South cooperation to respond collectively to the constraints; Mr. Hafedh Chekir, UNFPA ASRO Director, emphasizes that the African resources should be used and developed in the framework of South-to-South cooperation and that it’s only with sharing experiences that a global change can be done. Mr. Mohammed Salah Ben Ammar, General Director of Public Health of the Tunisian Republic, highlighted that Tunisia will learn from African countries and share with them its best practices. Read in French La Presse de Tunisie and Le Temps
BANGLADESH: Concert Organized on Prevention of Violence Against Women
Multiple media outlets reported on 26 November on a mega concert organized in Chittagong with the Bangladesh Musical Band Association (BAMBA) with 13 Bands. All the bands performed their popular songs to their youth crowds with the messages on the prevention of violence against women (VAW). All TV, radio, on-line and print medias promoted the theme song, talk shows and interviews with UNFPA officials and band performers on VAW issues and how musical associations are appealing to the young generations for eliminating VAW from Bangladesh. It was the second concert in the country with the slogan: "Say no to violence against women: Be a real man" organised jointly by UNFPA and BAMBA. Listen to the theme song on: YouTube
LEBANON: High Level Conference on Ageing
Several media outlets reported on 25 and 26 November on the high-level conference on ageing in Lebanon, organized by the Lebanese Epidemiology Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Labour, the Centre for Studies on Ageing, with support of WHO and UNFPA. This two-day event is entitled “Ageing in Lebanon: Supporting and Expanding Research for Meeting Challenges”. Read in Arabic: National News Agency, Now Lebanon, Lebanon Files.
GABON: UNFPA Promotes Action to Fight Violence Against Women
Gabon-Matin reported on 26 November on a capacity building workshop for institutions and NGOs, and a conference jointly organized by the Health and Social Affairs Ministry and UNFPA on the celebration of the International Day on Violence Against Women. Vice Health and Social Affairs Minister Claudine Menvoula denounced the daily violence afflicting women in Gabon, as a violation of human rights. UNFPA Deputy Country Director Mariama Diop underlined "the difficulties for women to access the judicial system due to lack of political will."