BURKINA FASO: UNFPA Representative Received By First Lady
Sidwaya on 25 June reported that Madame Chantal Compaore, the First Lady of Burkina Faso, received the UNFPA Representative in Burkina Faso Dr. Mamadou Kante. According to the newspaper, the First Lady has confirmed her participation in the London Summit on Family Planning. This summit will be held on 11 July. According to Dr. Kante, the situation of family planning in Burkina Faso is making progress.
JAMAICA: Non-communicable Disease Treatment Could Lower Maternal Deaths
The Jamaica Observer on 25 June reported that, according to UNFPA Assistant Representative Melissa McNeil-Barrett, the country could see a further reduction in their maternal death rate by tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs). "In the past few years, the causes of maternal death and morbidity have been linked to hypertension and diabetes and so on being developed during pregnancy," said Ms. McNeil-Barrett. She went on to say that, in the past, most maternal deaths were caused by issues such as haemorrhaging. However, UNFPA has been witnessing a shift where NCDs are now the primary cause. Read in English: Jamaica Observer
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: Opening of Al-Harazeen Maternal Hospital in Gaza
Multiple media outlets reported on 25 June on the official opening ceremony of one of UNFPA’s investments in Gaza “Hasan Al-Harazeen Maternal Hospital” funded by UNFPA in occupied Palestinian territory and implemented by UNDP/PAPP, with senior officials from the PA, UN sister agencies, and national partners present in this huge ceremony. “300 thousand inhabitants from the eastern part of the Gaza City alone will benefit from the services that Al-Harazeen Maternal Hospital will provide. The Hospital is already receiving patients, pregnant women where they can be treated with dignity and respect, and with excellent staff and medical equipment” Dr. Naem Sabra said. “Al-Shifa Hospital, located in the north of Gaza, is the only hospital where pregnant women can be referred, and receives 18 thousand delivery cases on a yearly basis, while Al-Harazeen Maternal Hospital will now reduce the heavy burden Al-Shifa Hospital is facing especially on the maternity ward.” Dr. Sabra continued. Read in Arabic: Safa
SUDAN: Orientation for Journalists on New Ways for Combating FGM
Al Sahafa reported on 25 June on a partnership between Teeba Press and UNFPA. The partners organized a two-day workshop for senior and middle media representatives. Twenty-three journalists representing more than 15 local media participated in the workshop. Lamya Badri, gender specialist with UNFPA Sudan, presented a paper on female genital mutilation/cutting prevalence in Sudan. According to 2010 figures, River Nile State in northern Sudan has the highest prevalence rate of 80 per cent while West Darfur State showed the lowest rate of 52 per cent. Social and psychological implications of early marriage were also discussed. One of the major workshop recommendations was reinforcing the leading role of the media in awareness-raising, together with that of the religious and community leaders. Read in Arabic: Al Sahafa
TIMOR-LESTE: JSMP Receive Donation of a Car from UNFPA
The Independente on 25 June reported that UNFPA gave the JSMP-VSS (Judicial System Monitoring Programme - Victim Support Service) a car to help them carry out their activities providing legal assistance to victims of domestic violence in rural areas. UNFPA Representative OIC Domingas Bernardo said that this car would help the VSS to carry out activities accompanying victims to the police, to prosecutors, the courts and safe shelters as they currently have no transport of their own. The Executive Director of JSMP VSS, Luis de Oliveira Sampaio said that this donation would help improve the quality and quantity of VSS services.