GEORGIA: Addressing the elephant in the room
Georgia Today reported on 15 December that from December 1 till December 10 UNFPA Georgia Country Office, in partnership with the International Centre on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN), Georgian Youth Development and Education Association (GYDEA) and the Caucasus Social Marketing Association (CSMA), organized the Youth Contest within the frames of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence and UNFPA global “7 Billion Actions” campaigns. During ten days - from December 1 till December 10 - every day a group of young people presented their flash mobs or performances in Tbilisi streets and created own articles, slogans, connected with gender- based violence and HIV/AIDS. The global theme for the 2011 campaign is From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence against Women! “Domestic violence, raping, militarism are the main reasons that are ruining lives of many woman,” said Gvantsa Kordzakhia, 21, one of the participators of the campaign.
The youth contest will finish on December 13, 2011 by the awarding ceremony of the contest winners. Read in English: Georgia Today
SUDAN: Midwifery Promotions
Al Sahafa reported that the federal ministry of health in Sudan, together with UNFPA, organized an advocacy open on midwifery in the federal midwifery school of Sudan. The day activities were covered by the media highlighting the role of UNFPA in supporting midwifery in Sudan. Alsahafa, a popular Arabic daily, made the support of UNFPA to midwifery as a head line to the article and quoted Pamela Delargy UNFPA acting representative. Read in Arabic: Al Sahafa
SIERRA LEONE: UNFPA Hands Over Special Care Baby Unit
The Concord Times Newspaper reported on 15 December that as a demonstration for its continuous support for the free health programme for lactating mothers and pregnant women to minimize death rates in the country, the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, on Monday 12 December handed over the refurbished and expanded Special Care Baby Unit and Mother’s Lodge at the PCM Hospital, to the Government of Sierra Leone. While handing over the unit, the UNFPA Country Representative among other things said that UNFPA Sierra Leone committed its own core resources to the refurbishment, expansion and creation of the mother’s lodge and baby care unit for neonates in the hospital. The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Haja Hawa Bangura, thanked UNFPA for their support in the health sector.
LEBANON:LEBANON: Launching SWOP and 7B National Statistical Booklet
Several media outlets reported on 15 December on the launching of UNFPA’s State of World Population report 2011 as well as a 7B national statistical booklet entitled “Lebanon in a World of Seven Billion: New Figures … Pending Issues.” This double event was held in the presence of the Minister of Social Affairs. The various sections of the 2011 SWOP were briefly presented in the event with key highlights and examples from the Arab States. The national statistical booklet was developed by the Population and Development Project, a joint collaboration between the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) and UNFPA, in an effort to contribute to the promotion of the theme for the World Population Day 2011 “Seven billion people counting on each other.” The booklet includes key indicators/statistics on a number of population and development themes relevant to Lebanon and seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues and on the need to find solutions. It also includes national data pertaining to the 7B Campaign themes. It also aims to serve as an advocacy tool targeting primarily media professionals however could also be addressed to key stakeholders such as parliamentarians, officials in public administrations, researchers, and NGOs, to draw their attention on priority population issues in Lebanon. As such, the booklet is meant to act as an important source of concise, friendly and quick information on main indicators/statistics at the national level. Read in Arabic: Lebanon Files, National News Agency, Al Balad, As Safir, El Nashra, Al Moustaqbal.
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA Representative op-ed on social policies
Metropolis published on 15 December an op-ed by UNFPA Representative David Lawson on the occasion of the end of the 7 Billion Campaign launched on the occasion of the world population reaching 7 billion. Mr. Lawson outlined the need to plan ahead and define urban, and social policy to deal with ageing, youth, and ensure a better world for future generations.
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA Chief Gathers Representatives for United Vision
Congo-site reported on 15 December on a meeting called by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin with all UNFPA Representatives worldwide in Jordan, from 5-7 December, to discuss the UNFPA’s new business plan, the Executive Director's vision for the organization, and a unified strategy to support government and civil society for the benefit of peoples. Read in French: Congo-site
MALAWI: Fistula camps restore hope in women
The Nation reported on 15 December that up to 400 women suffering from fistula have been treated since 2009 through fistula camps run by the Malawi government, with assistance from the United Nations Population Fund.
Although Malawi has no specific data on the extent of the fistula problem, a UNFPA survey in 2009 indicated that the problem is rampant, especially in rural areas with data collected from hospital records and through community surveys in nine districts revealing that 1,581 women had fistula that year. Read in English: The Nation