GLOBAL: Continuing Coverage of World Population Day

BOTSWANA: The Botswana Gazette reported on 18 July that maternal health is a serious challenge for many women without access to sexual and reproductive health services the world over. Speaking during World Population Day, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Aisha Camara-Drammeh said besides sexual and reproductive health being a critical part of sustainable development, it is a basic human right which every woman should have. She said worldwide, 222 million women who wish to delay pregnancy have no access to contraceptives. This unmet need for family planning contributes to 21 million unplanned births, 79,000 maternal deaths and 1.1 million infant deaths. She also said the challenges have resulted in almost 800 women dying globally during pregnancy or due to childbirth complications which could have otherwise been prevented, while around 20 more suffer long-lasting illnesses or disabilities also related to pregnancy. Furthermore, she revealed that every year, 19 million unsafe abortions occur in developing countries resulting in 47,000 deaths of the women involved. Accentuating the importance of reproductive health services with particular focus on improving maternal health, Assistant Minister of Health Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri said Botswana had made strides in improving maternal health countrywide. He said associated indicators from the Botswana Family Health Survey, 2007 have shown the Ante Natal Care coverage and assisted delivery by skilled personnel to be at 94% and 95% respectively while the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate was at 52.8%. Read in English: Botswana Gazette

BURKINA FASO: Le pays on 16 July published an article on the celebration of World Population Day. The paper said that the acting Representative of UNFPA Pascal Karorero, who read the speeches of the Executive Director of UNFPA,  affirmed its commitment to act with all partners to ensure universal access to reproductive health. The representative of the Minister of Economy and Finance, appealed to all political authorities, traditional and religious, with development partners, the private sector, civil society organizations and the entire population for a greater synergy of action for achieving "universal access to reproductive health services." Read in French: Le Pays

CHINA: Beijing News on 17 July reported on a UNFPA China sponsored, week-long peer educators’ training camp organized by China Family Planning Association (CFPA) and China Youth Network from 10-15 July. This was the first national peer educators training led by young people. Two trainers from Y-peer in Asia were invited to the training which had 60 participants from all over China. UNFPA China provided technical support to the workshop as one of its planned activities in the youth programme. Media were invited to cover the 2012 World Population Day Event with the theme of “Voices of Youth, Initiative of Cooperation” which kicked off the training. UNFPA prepared a press release with key messages focusing on youth issues. Beijing News, a popular and influential newspaper featured a photo story on 17 July, highlighting young people learning and talking about sexual and reproductive health issues which are normally not openly discussed in public. The report was picked up by many on-line media.

The article quoted UNFPA Representative Mr. Arie Hoekman, "Every young person has the right to comprehensive sexuality education, and access to youth-friendly reproductive health services. With the right policies, investments and social support, young people can enjoy healthier lives free of poverty, violence and exploitation." UNFPA-supported survey findings on youth access to sexual and reproductive health were also quoted. Read in Chinese: Beijing News, News 163 and News ca315

COSTA RICA: Different media reported from 11 to 17 July  about an investigation carried out by UNFPA on the acceptability of the female condom, which was conducted in two districts of the country as part of the celebrations for World Population Day. “We gave female condoms to women in two counties, so they could use them for about three weeks, then we measured their level of satisfaction with the method, and indeed the results are very interesting because it shows that a large proportion of women (over 60%), were satisfied and are willing to use it again,” said Laura Sanchez, UNFPA’s specialist, who added that universal access to reproductive health services is a priority. The female condom is not available in Costa Rica. Listen in Spanish: Programa Nuestra Voz, Radio ADN, Radio Nacional Watch in Spanish: Entrevista Telenoticias, Canal 7, Canal 13, Canal 44, RTN Noticias, NC Once , Nota Telenoticias Read in Spanish: Diario Extra, Al Día, La Prensa Libre, La Nación, La Teja.

CUBA: Multiple media outlets reported between 16 and 22 July on UNFPA's World Population Day celebrations, dedicated to universal access to reproductive health. Jesus Robles, International Coordinator of the UNFPA Program in Cuba and Rolando Garcia, UNFPA Assistant Representative in Cuba were both mentioned in media. Read in Spanish: SEMlac Cuba and Granma Internacional

EGYPT: Multiple media outlets from 10-12 July reported on World Population Day in Egypt. These outlets included: The Egyptian Gazette, Watani, Almasry Alyoum, Al Hayat, Al Ahram, Al Youm 7, Al Watan, Al Mougaz, Al Ahram, Akher Sa3a, Egypt Independent, Middle East News Agency, Ahram Messay, Shorouk, Sada el Balad, Misr el Mahrousa, Masrawy, Al sha3b, Maktoob News and Akhbar al Youm. Over 20 articles were written and 5 TV interviews were recorded. UNFPA launched the documentary "The Tuk-Tuk Nurse-Midwife, Reducing Maternal Mortality in Upper-Egypt" to mark the occasion. UNFPA Director Dr. Magdy Khaled is quoted in several of the articles. Read in English: Egypt Independent, Al Ahram Read in Arabic: Al Youm and Watani

GUINEA-BISSAU: Nô Pintcha reported on 19 July on the celebration of World Population Day. Special focus was placed on the publication of data collected from the 2009 Population and Housing Census. The UN in Guinea-Bissau called on the government and the country’s decision makers to effectively utilize the data collected from the Census 2009 to make the most efficient investments to meet the needs and circumstances of the population and help lift people out of poverty. The Prime Minister, the UNFPA Representative and the UN System Coordinator, highlighted the importance of collecting data as a planning tool for development in their speeches.

JAMAICA: The Gleaner on 16 July reported that, Geetha Sethi, director at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), says protecting the rights of the nation's youth population is critical to the country's development. "One of immediate concern is the rights of the convention of the child, which states that all children should be able to live a life free of threats of violence or abuse of any kind," she said. Speaking at the World Population Day 2012 Symposium at Emancipation Park in St Andrew, Sethi said the young are the country's biggest asset and thus good health is a necessity. Read in English: The Gleaner

The Jamaica Observer reported on 18 July on the World Population Day Symposium organized by UNFPA and the Planning Institute of Jamaica to mark the day.  The Symposium, which was held under the the theme: "Adolescent Reproductive Health, It's Your Right...Claim it with Responsibility!" featured edutainment, entertainment, giveaways,  booth displays and panel discussions. Speaking on a panel, which looked at the history of reproductive health services in Jamaica, President of the Jamaica Family Planning Association, Sonia Ffolkes called for greater emphasis on the teaching of sex education in the school curriculum. She said it was incongrous that the age of consent is 16 "yet there is strong opposition from certain quarters from having sex education in schools." Read in English: Jamaica Observer

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: Multiple media outlets on 18 July reported on World Population Day celebrations that took place with a special message “universal access to reproductive health services,” in both Ramallah and the Gaza Strip simultaneously.

In coordination with the National Population Committee of the Ministry of Planning and Administrative Development (MoPAD) and the Ministry of Health, with the cooperation of Ibn Sina Nursing College and Nursing and Midwifery Syndicate, Ramallah celebrations underlined the importance of the role of midwifery “….despite vagueness of this profession,  calling for their training due to their affective  role will convince the Palestinian society of its importance as a profession“ Ms. Barbara Piazza-Georgi, UNFPA Representative, said.

In Gaza, Dr. Said Hammouz, Ministry of Health, commended the work UNFPA is implementing to promote the role of midwives through its continuous support to Ibn Sina College for Health Sciences, as well as the Ministry’s commitment in reaching the MDG 4 in reducing maternal deaths and access to reproductive health services. Read in Arabic: Al-quds, AL-AYYAM, Alhayat, Maan News, Wafa, PANET, PalShabab, Shasha, Al Watan Voice, PNN Arabic, Raya, Maan News, QudsNet, Amad, Alnahar News, Aswar Press, Ekhbaryat

In addition, to emphasize the role of midwives in Palestinian society and underline World Population Day's message, a billboard was placed at the Huwwara Checkpoint with a special message reading, "If a mother gives life, a midwife gives safe motherhood."

PARAGUAY: Prensa Indígena reported on 17 July that during the World Population Day event, organized by  Presencia Joven, the Senior Advisor for  Advocacy and Communication UNFPA said that to realize universal access to family planning services and progress towards MDG 5 is to work on a par with young people. She added that in Itapúa, 40% of the 300 pregnancies that occur every month are to adolescents. This is a reality that moves us and we are supporting various actions that are priorities for the country. Read more in Spanish: Prensa Indígena

SUDAN: El Genaina, on 16 July ran a news report on ongoing preparations for Sudan’s celebration of World Population Day. The Wali, Mr. Haidar Galucuma Ateem, and Mr. Bahar Idris Abu-Garda, the Federal Minister of Health, addressed the event which was organized by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Mr. Ahmed Is-haq Yagoub, the State Minister of Health, said the celebration aimed to highlight the issues and problems that affect the State residents, look into solutions through different means and create partnerships with relevant parties. The programme included a blood donation campaign to save the lives of mothers and children and a seminar for the leaders of different institutions on the issues related to maternal and new-born health.

El Genaina, on 17 July ran a news report on the World Population Day celebration that took place in El Genaina. Mr. Bahar Idris Abu-Garda, Federal Minister of Health, along with Mr. Haidar Galucuma Ateem, Wali of West Darfur, a number of government officials and UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs representatives, witnessed the celebration organized by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) under the theme; “Integration of reproductive health services .. guarantee to build a happy family.” Addressing the ceremony, Mr. Abu-Garda stressed the importance of the participation of the community to raise awareness on the issues related to reproductive health and reaffirmed the readiness of his ministry to provide integrated health services and supporting training programs for health cadres in order to play their role properly among the community. He stated that the efforts being exerted by the Ministry of health have contributed to the reduction of maternal mortality [in Sudan].

Al Sahafa on 17 July ran a report on Sudan’s World Population Day celebration. Federal Minster of Health, Bahar Idris Abu Garda addressed Sudan’s celebration of World Population Day asserting that reproductive health is a main component of primary health care. He highlighted that improving reproductive health services requires training of health cadres, awareness-raising among women and families in addition to having in place effective referral mechanisms to save both mother and new-born lives. Dr. Anas Jabir Babiker addressed the event on behalf of Pamela Delargy, UNFPA Representative to Sudan. Dr. Babiker said official statistics show 28% of Sudanese women would like to space their children but have no access to information and services which necessitates more efforts by partners to make these services available. He further asserted that integrated and emergency reproductive health service during pregnancy and at birth and voluntary child spacing will enable Sudanese women to better contribute to the development of the country. Read in Arabic: Al Sahafa

Sudan Vision on 19 July published half-a-page report on Sudan’s celebration of World Population Day. Celebrations for World Population Day kicked off in the West Darfur capital, El Genaina. The event was organized by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund. Federal Minister of Health, Bahar Idris Abu Garda, was quoted as saying the Ministry continues to promote family planning which does not mean determining the number of children but rather means spacing their birth. He invoked different community sectors to raise awareness about the dangers of successive births especially for girls under 18 years of age. The celebration included a blood donation campaign and a seminar for leaders under the theme of “Population is the basis for development .. Let’s improve Reproductive Health Services” Reproductive health concepts, indicators and programs were discussed and participants came out with a set of recommendations. Read in English: Sudan Vision

YEMEN: 14 October on 18 July published a one-page report reflecting on the theme of World Population Day and the role of UNFPA in this regard. The report discussed reproductive health (RH) issues and its connection with  UNFPA’s vision and strategies. The report quoted UNFPA many times when talking about RH issues such as unmet needs, abortion and family planning methods. Read in Arabic: 14 October, 14 October

AL-Thawarah reported on 18 July on the celebration of World Population Day and quoted the UNFPA Representative's speech. In the same page there was another article which  was  on reproductive health and it mentioned UNFPA’s theme for World Population Day “improved access to reproductive health services.”