GLOBAL: CONTINUING COVERAGE ON WORLD POPULATION DAY AND YEAR OF SEVEN BILLION
COMOROS: Al Balad reported on 21 July that Comoros celebrated World Population Day on 18 July at Mrijou-Anjouan. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Vice-President, the Minister of Health, the UN System Resident Coordinator, the Assistant Representative of UNFPA and the authorities of the island and the region Nioumakelé. It is women who responded overwhelmingly to the invitation of the Directorate General of the population of the island of Anjouan.
GABON: L'Union reported on 18 July on the celebration of World Population Day 2011 under the theme "Youth: Building the future," presided over by Youth Minister Rene Ndemezo' Obiang. Activities of the day included exhibitions, a fair, HIV voluntary testing and counselling, reproductive health sensitization, etc. Deputy Country Director Mariama Darboe Diop said, "Youth is the future of mankind. By involving youth and women, we can build a better world."
GUINEA-BISSAU: Nô Pintcha reported on 14 July that Guinea-Bissau celebrated World Population Day with a public event attended by the Economic, Planning and Regional Integration Minister, Partners and national authorities. The Representative of UNICEF read the message of the General Secretary of United Nations delivered and Bouri Jean Victor Sanhouidi, Representative a.i. of UNFPA/Guinea-Bissau delivered the message of the Executive Director of the UNFPA.
NICARAGUA: La Prensa and Bolsa de Noticias reported on 18-21 July that on the occasion of the World Population Day, the UNFPA launched a call for reflection with the challenge of a population of seven billion. Read in Spanish: La Prensa
PAKISTAN: PLUS News reported on 19 July that World Population Day was observed in the provincial capital as elsewhere in the country to create awareness among the masses about global population issues. The Rahnuma Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP), a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), joins its federation in the call for a renewed focus on the reproductive health of the `bottom billion` -- the poorest and the most vulnerable people, many of whom are young and female. Rahnuma FPAP president Mahtab Rashdi will moderate a discussion panel and Syed Kamal Shah will be one of the panelists. Other key players are UNFPA, Marie Stopes Society, Shirkat Gah and Green Star Social Marketing.
SIERRA LEONE: For Di People Newspaper reported on 22 July that UNFPA on July 11 celebrated World Population Day and launched the “7 Billion Actions” campaign. The day was commemorated in all regions of Sierra Leone, commencing with a march of school children, youth groups, women’s groups, partners of UNFPA, government officials and a cross section of some UN agencies in Sierra Leone. Speaking at the ceremony held in Makeni, the Northern Province headquarter town, the representative of Marie Stopes Sierra Leone, Edna O. Palmer congratulated UNFPA and revealed that Marie Stopes Sierra Leone, to kick off their contribution to the 7 billion actions, will offer free family planning services to everybody who visits their clinics in all their locations in the country from 11-16 July 2011. She called on all decisionmakers to come onboard this laudable initiative and do something for a better Sierra Leone.
REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Korea Times reported on 18 July that “In every blink of your eyes, the population grows by two to three persons. The world's population is expected to hit the 7 billion on Oct. 31. It took only 71 years to triple to 6 billion in 1998, compared to 123 years to double to 2 billion in 1927. The world's population was 1 billion 200 years ago. Such a steep increase of the population has been casting a dark shadow over the future of Earth. 'There has been no species that has ever crowded Earth rapidly like this,' said Robert Engelman, executive director of Worldwatch Institute. 'Shortage of energy and food would be a great problem.'” Read: Korea Times