JOICFP NEWS NO. 231 SEPTEMBER 1993
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- JOICFP NEWS NO. 231 SEPTEMBER 1993
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No. 231 September 1993
ISSN 0911-0755
JOICFP NEWS
Working with Women In Laos
Regional project focuses on FP/MCH service access to improve situation of women
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(From left) Professor Vannareth Rajpho, minister of health of Laos; Anne Sutherland, representative, UNICEF Laos; and
Khemphet Pholsena, permanent member, Executive Committee, Lao Women’s Union.
Members of a JOICFP mission to
Laos were made acutely aware of the
needfor improving access for women to
family planning (FP) and maternal and
child health (MCH) care services during
discussions with villagers. An illiterate
woman interviewed at Paksane Provin
cial Hospital explained that her visit to
the hospital was herfirst. Sufferingfrom
hypertension and edema and pregnant
for the 12th time, she said that she had
delivered three ofher children by herself
and that only four of her children are
living. Although she had not heard of
FP, she told the team that she and her
husband consideredfive children ideal.
The team heard many similar stories
during their trip to Laos from June 29 July 8 to discuss the workplan and base
line survey for the “Sustainable Commu
nity-based FP/MCH Project with Special
Focus on Women (RAS/92/P11).” Now
in its preparatory phase, the project is
aimed at improving the situation of
women through the provision of FP/
MCH services and is being conducted
on a regional basis with the support of
UNFPA. In Laos, the project is being
in semi-urban areas. In addition, many
rural health facilities are under-utilized
because of poor construction, lack of
medical supplies and scarce equipment.
The team was also made aware that financial
support remained a stumbling block to the
establishment of a health volunteer system.
In Vientiane, the mission discussed
strategies for the project with IMCH
officials. Among the strategies agreed
upon was that JOICFP would work with
the multisectoral MCH committees now
being organized, and that villages within
a5km-radius of the district hospitals would
be the initial target of the project. To
implement the mass approach to health
care, the project will gather villagers
using outreach clinics which will provide
primary health care (PHC) services as well
as health education and individual coun
seling. The health center staff, volunteers
of the Lao Women’s Union (LWU) and
village administrators will form a tripartite
alliance to implement the activities.
The team members also met with
implemented by the National Institute
of Mother and Child Health (IMCH).
During its stay, the team visited the
three proposed project sites in Vientiane
Municipality and Paksane and Thaphabat
districts in Bolikhamxay Province and
spoke with administrators and health
staff. The lack of birth spacing services
was presented to the mission as a major
problem even for Lao women who live
Ameerah Haq-Perera, representative,
UNDP Laos.
Professor Vannareth Rajpho, minister of
health, and representatives of other re
lated organizations during their stay. “For
any PHC project, I would like to
emphasize coordination,’’ said Rajpho.
“We would like JOICFP to cooperate
closely with other donor agencies.”
Anne Sutherland, representative,
UNICEF Laos, emphasized UNICEF’s
support for the integrated approach to
healthcare. The organization is looking
for windows of opportunity to better
promote its current priority project of
immunization, she said, adding that
UNICEF has been actively seeking
partners such as non-governmental
organizations to achieve this.
Khemphet Pholsena, permanent
member, Executive Committee, LWU,
emphasized the importance of moti
vating female volunteers at the village
level. “The project will not work if
these women are not supported,” she
said. “We have to give them confidence
in the project, such as by providing some
equipment for them to carry out smallscale income-generating activities.”
Expressing support for the project,
Ameerah Haq-Perera, representative,
UNDP Laos, stressed that a project
involving grassroots women in decision
making will take a long time to prepare
and that volunteers do need incentives
such as assistance in child care.
An orientation workshop for central
level officials is scheduled for mid
December and a series of training sessions
are being planned in Thailand.
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1
World Population Day
People
in Motion
A view of the audience.
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Symposium for World
Population Day highlights
theme of migration
“In the past, people left Japan to seek
a better life in another country but today
Japan is receiving peoplefrom abroad,”
said Dr. Toshio Kuroda, director
emeritus, Nihon University Population
Research Institute. “Now that Japan has
experienced both these movements of
people, it is appropriate that we consider
the role of the country in the context of
migration and the borderless world.”
Kuroda made his remarks in a key
note address he gave to an international
symposium held in Tokyo on July 15 to
mark World Population Day on July 11.
The symposium reflected the Migration
theme of UNFPA’s 1993 State of World
Population Report and included a panel
discussion on the topic of “Why do
people move?”
Kuroda commented that internation
al migration has become a far more
pressing issue since the end of the Cold
War. “In the new political climate, we
will see greater movement of people,” he
said. “People move to seek a better way
of life, and this is something that will not
be stopped quickly and cannot be stop
ped by force,” he said.
The discussion by the four panelists
was coordinated by Dr. Yoichi Okazaki,
professor, Nihon University, and was the
highlight of the symposium. The event
was attended by 300 people including
experts, officials, government officials,
parliamentarians and academics and
featured a new JOICFP documentary film
on women in development in Guatemala
entitled Maria. An annual event, the
symposium was organized by the Council
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Members of the audience listen intently to the panel discussion.
on Population Education in cooperation
with JOICFP and was supported by
UNFPA.
In a message to the symposium, Dr.
Nafis Sadik, executive director, UNFPA,
noted progress toward the UN International
Conference on Population and Devel
opment to be held in Cairo in 1994.
Commenting that the 1994 conference will
decide the direction of population efforts
in the future, Sadik expressed her hope that
the symposium would serve as an important
activity to stimulate awareness about the
conference. She said that the world expects
a considerable contribution in the field of
population from Japan and emphasized
that population problems cannot be solved
by the developing countries alone.
A business viewpoint of migration was
provided by Ken Moroi, chairman,
Chichibu Cement Co., Ltd. , and vicepresident, Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of
Employers’ Association), a major eco
nomic organization. “The role of Japan is
very clear; it must assist developing
countries to develop,” he said. “Deve
lopment is a key factor of international
migration and the most important assis
tance that developing countries need is in
the field of human resources,” Moroi said.
“The quality of life must be improved and
people must feel that if they work they
will gain benefits.”
Moroi said that the business sector of
Japan is carefully examining ways to start
business ventures in other countries. Since
businesses look closely at the stability and
human resources of a country before they
invest, it is extremely important that Japan
help other countries to develop their
infrastructure and levels of business and
technical know-how, he said. “Without
making investments in the development of
other countries, we cannot stop the flow of
economic refugees,” he said.
The need for the North to extend
assistance to the South was also
emphasized by Dr. Gerald Curtis,
professor, Columbia University, who
commented that the age when developed
countries only considered their own
interests is finished. “It is now in the
mutual national interest of countries in
the North and South to promote
development in developing countries,”
he said. “Countries such as Japan must
open their markets to the products of
developing countries.”
Foreign Workers in Japan
Shizuko Oshima, coordinator of
Hand-in-Hand-Chiba, a non-govern
mental organization (NGO) working to
support foreign workers in Japan, drew
attention to the lack of protection for
illegal migrant workers in Japan.
“Officially, there are 290,000 illegal
foreign workers in Japan, but I estimate
that the real number could be as high as
400,000-500,000,” she said. “Although
these people are illegal, they are
contributing to the economy of Japan
and should be protected from the point of
view of human rights,” she added.
Putting Japan’s migration issues in a
historical perspective, Dr. Makoto Ato,
director, Population Problems Research
Institute, Ministry of Health and Welfare,
commented that between the start of the
Meiji era in 1868 and the 1960s, 1.7
million people left Japan. “With the
rapid development in the 1960s, people
stopped leaving Japan and today we are
a nation on the receiving end of migrants,”
he said. It is time that the Japanese legal
system is be adjusted to meet the needs of
the new situation, he stressed.
[j]
JOICFPNEWS, September 1993
China
Fine-tuning Project Implementation
Experts assess progress in 4th phase project areas in China
An expert assessment was made of realistic short-term goals be set for the
progress in new 4th phase Integrated project and that PC be used as an edu
Project (IP) areas by a joint Japanese- cational tool to trigger interest in health
Chinese team that visited two project issues and not simply as a means to reduce
areas in two provinces from May 22 - parasite infection. The team emphasized
June 1. The first monitoring mission to that people would be more willing to join
observe 4th phase IP sites since the pro such activities as latrine construction if
ject was launched in 10 new provinces in they understood health issues. They also
January this year,
recommended that
data collection should
the team consisted
of family planning
be improved and that
(FP), maternal and
fees
should
be
child health (MCH)
charged to help
and parasite con
improve
service
quality.
trol (PC) experts
The results of the
from the China
monitoring mission
National Steering
were also reflected in
Committee of the
the proceedings of the
IP and JOICFP.
National Workshop
The team mem
on the IP for the 4th
bers visited Dongphase, held June 3-8
zhi County, Chiin Taicang City,
zhou Prefecture,
Jiangsu Province.
Anhui Province,
Attended by 60
and Yiyang County,
participants including
Shangrao
A woman draws water from an
central-level experts
Prefecture, Jiangxi
improved well in Yiyang County.
and
government
Province, where
they were briefed on all aspects of the IP officials, representatives of the 1 st, 3rd and
by local steering committees and held 4th phase areas and JOICFP officials, the
discussions with local people involved workshop consisted of three days of
in the project. The visitors also viewed presentations, a one-day field trip in Taicang
activities at stations for epidemic and two days of discussions.
In the workshop recommendations,
prevention, MCH and FP at the county
level and visited town hospitals, farm participants stressed the need to strengthen
the provincial IP steering committees by
houses and primary schools.
The IP covers a target population of involving government departments, related
34,593 in Dongzhi County and of52,399 organizations, expert groups and voluntary
in Yiyang County. Socioeconomic status groups more closely in the project. The
for both areas is relatively low, a factor need to train staff to serve as permanent
reflected in the low literacy, high parasite members of the IP was brought up by
infestation rates and high infant morality participants, who also called for more
rates (IMRs). The IMR in 1992 was appropriate IEC activities and more
40.5%o and 44.4%o, while total parasite effective use of PC as a means to promote
infection rate was 63% and 69.6% for health education. To expand the resources
of the project, the recommendations called
Dongzhi and Yiyang, respectively.
In Dongzhi County, the team found for fund-raising through various channels
that 140 project personnel had been such as government bodies, enterprises
recruited and that various IEC and and community people and the
training activities had been conducted establishment of local economic
under the project. In Yiyang County, enterprises.
The workshop also highlighted the
meanwhile, the team found that IPimplementing organizations had been need to improve statistical evaluation and
set up, IEC activities had been conducted reporting systems. In particular, the
participants called for more systematic
and 232 personnel had been trained.
Following its assessment, the experts collection and analysis of data and use of
came up with a series of recommen both qualitative and quantitative
dations for improving implementation. information to provide a clearer picture of
In particular, the mission stressed that project impact.
[5]
JOICFP NEWS, September 1993
Towards Better
Health Promotion
Eleven Chinese officials gained valuable
insights into Japan’s community-based FP,
MCH andprimary health care activities while
in the country from June 28 - July 11.
Comprising management stafffrom new 4 th
phase IP areas and a representativefrom the
Department of Foreign Affairs, State Family
Planning Commission (SFPC), the team took
part in the Tenth Parasite Control Seminar
for Promoting the IP in China and visited
Fukushima Prefecture for field observation
of activities related to healthcare and
environmental sanitation.
The training was aimed at deepening the
participants’ understanding of the concept of
the IP and improving their level of technical
know-how with a view to enhancing
promotion of the IP in their respective areas.
Participants were also introduced to the
community-based healthcare activities
conducted in Japan in the postwar years and
learned about the effective role that non
governmental organizations have continued
to play in improving the way of life in Japan,
particularly through activities conducted in
collaboration with the government.
The seminar was sponsored by the
Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation and
conducted by the Japan Association of Parasite
Control (JAPC) in cooperation with JOICFP.
Exchanging Information
The trip to Fukushima Prefecture served as
a highlight for the Chinese visitors who were
able to exchange information with people
working in the field and view activities
firsthand. The team visited environmental
sanitation facilities, observed healthcare
activities and were introduced to the
supporting role played by volunteer groups
such as women’s and food sanitation
associations in Fukushima.
Through the field trip, the team was able to
see the benefits of government and private
sector collaboration and understand the
effectiveness of involving the community in
health and development activities.
■
Participants observe registration for
health checkups in Fukushima.
3
Aging in Asia
Health
Issues for
the Aged
Issues of health promotion and
medical services for the elderly were
addressed at this year s Seminar on
Population Aging, held in Japan from
July 5-16. The event was the second
program of JOICFP’s second Regional
Population Aging Project, “Promotion
ofAwareness and Policy Formulation on
Aging in the Asian Region (RAS1921
PIS)”.
The seminar was primarily aimed at
promoting the formulation of health and
medical policies and the development of
systems and strategies to meet the needs
of societies with aged populations using
the experience of Japan as a case study. It
was attended by eight representatives
from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka
and Thailand.
The field trips to two towns in Miyagi
Prefecture provided participants with a
valuable comparison of different ap-
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Participants meet an elderly woman
cared for by her daughter-in-law.
proaches to health promotion among the
elderly. In Wakuya Town, the team visited
the Medical and Social Services Center.
The town, which has sought to integrate
health and welfare activities including those
for the elderly, created the center to function
as a base for comprehensive health services
and health promotion. As such, it
incorporates a range of facilities such as
rehabilitation and gymnasium facilities.
The participants were introduced to
Three Perspectives on Aging
Three participants of the Seminar on
Population Aging provided insights into aging
issues in their countries and impressions of
the seminar to JOICFP NEWS on July 15.
Below are highlights of their comments.
Joanna Tan, executive officer, Popu
lation Planning Unit, and executive officer,
Department of Continuing Care, Ministry
of Health, Singapore
Currently, people aged 60 years and older
make up about 9.4% of the population of
Singapore. We are experiencing rapid aging
and by the year 2030, the proportion of aged
is expected to reach 26%.
In an attempt to meet the needs of the
elderly in Singapore through the provision of
comprehensive healthcare services, we
recognize that there is a need for support
services, especially in situations where
families have to cope with those elderly with
long-term chronic illnesses.
During the field trip to Sambongi Town we
visited a home in which four generations
were living together. The daughter-in-law
was taking care of her bedridden mother-inlaw and seemed to accept her role. But my
concern is whether such daughter-in-laws
can continue to fulfil this role. Home help
visits are not sufficient because they only
come once a week, while the daughter-in4
law’s job is non-stop, seven days a week.
In an urban setting such as Singapore, the
woman has many roles — mother, wife,
daughter-in-law and working woman. As
working women we have to ask ourselves
whether we would take care of the elderly.
This issue has been recognized in Singapore
and there are general policies that help relieve
the burden placed on women. For example, we
try to maintain the function of the extended
family by supporting inter-generational
households through housing policies.
*
*
*
Dr. Suchart Phudhichareonrat, head.
Neuropathology Department, Prasat
Neurological Hospital and Institute,
Thailand
Thailand has been experiencing population
aging since the 1960s when the proportion of
people over 60 was 4.6%. By 1990, the aged
people occupied 7.3% of the total population
and this proportion is expected to reach 10.9%
in 2014.
The main concern with the elderly in Thailand
is disease prevention and maintenance of
physical and mental health. If the health of the
elderly is maintained, we can cut costs of care.
To achieve this aim, we divide the elderly
into four age groups and have a different
emphasis for each group. For 50 to 60-year-
community care service approach for the
aged in Sanbongi Town, which unlike
Wakuya Town, has no institution
providing integrated services. The town
offered the visitors insights into the
effective operation of a home visit nursing
care program for the aged. Participants
were particularly impressed that the
system had succeeded in establishing a
good collaborative working network
among the nurses, home helpers and
nutritionists and service recipients.
The field trip did much to stimulate
discussion among the visitors who were
able to pin-point shared issues concerning
health of the elderly in Asia. In particular,
they noted the strong tradition of family
support for the elderly in Asia and the
impact that the emergence of the nuclear
family is having on this system. Other
areas of shared concern noted were the
diversity of needs of the elderly and the
pressing issue of a lack of human
resources — both specialists and general
care-givers. The participants also showed
concern over how to allocate limited
resources adequately to cater to the
different needs of the elderly. It was
agreed that the view of the aged as weak
needs to be changed and that the elderly
need to be actively involved and
contribute to community life.
[J]
olds, we emphasize prevention of disease so
that they can enter old age and enjoy a healthy
life in their old age. For 60 to 70-year-olds,
we stress an active role for the elderly in
society, which contributes to the maintenance
of health. For 70 to 80-year-olds, we
emphasize nutrition and education on daily
meals. We also stress moderate exercise for
physical and mental health. For those 80
years and older, we place stress on the people
surrounding and taking care of the elderly.
*
*
*
Wan Hashim Wan Jaffar, assistant
statistical officer, National Population and
Family Development Board, Malaysia
In Malaysia we consider that we still have
a young population because those aged 65
and over only make up 3.7% of the population.
This proportion is expected to rise to around
7% by the year 2020. Because of this, we do
not have any specific policy for the elderly.
Their needs are catered for under the National
Social Welfare Policy as part of the
disadvantaged.
It is a norm in Malaysian culture that the
family looks after elderly parents and usually
it is the daughter who takes care of the par
ents. With rapid industrialization, however,
the extended family is being replaced with the
nuclear family. Recognizing this, the
government revised the National Welfare
Policy in 1991 and provides a tax rebate for
tax payers who look after elderly family
members.
[7|
JOICFP NEWS, September 1993
Exchanges
Sharing Expertise in Aging
Australia reaches out to Asian countries in the field of aging
Professor Gary Andrews, director,
Center for Aging Studies, Flinders
University of South Australia, and Dr.
John McCallum, senior researchfellow,
National Center for Epidemiology and
Population Health, The Australian
National University, visited JOICFP on
June 10 as consultants commissioned by
the Australian government to study aged
care issues in the Asian region and the
potentialfor international collaboration.
In Tokyo, they exchanged information
with prominent Japanese experts in the
field of aging in a roundtable discussion
organized by JOICFP. Below are some
highlights of their comments during the
session.
Gary Andrews
We are now entering a new era where
there is a need for countries to work
together and cooperate within the region
to tackle population aging just as we did
with family planning. The difficulty,
however, is how to translate policies into
action, or “operationalizing” the policies.
JOICFP has been in a wonderful position
to coordinate institutions regionally to
promote exchange and prevent the
duplication of effort by various agencies.
We are visiting Japan as a part of a
team to look at aging and aged care
services in the Asian region to see if the
experiences of our country can be applied
to other countries in the region and if we
can benefit each other from sharing
experiences. Our team will observe aging
programs in 10 Asian countries.
Australia now has a policy to make
more effort to be part of Asia, not just
John McCallum
JOICFP NEWS, September 1993
geographically but also culturally,
socially and economically. We have
a great deal to learn from exchanges
within the region — we have already
gathered many skills and resources
and we do not need to look to the
United States and Europe for
guidance and technical expertise as
much as we did before. We feel that
Australia’s aged care expertise and
services can be “sold” abroad both
directly and through aid programs.
We would like to work with Japan as a
potential partner in bilateral projects with
in the region.
The Australian system for the care of
the aged achieved success in moving from
an institutional to a more community focus.
From the evaluations of our projects, we
have also learned to go from a service
orientation to a more individual orientation
and to give more respect to the dignity and
rights of the elderly. The dichotomy of the
family versus the state being responsible
for elderly care has become a partnership
among family, state and community.
We are now extending support and
assistance to families providing care as
well, not just those needing care. Australia
has a massive education infrastructure and
this could be better used by the country to
benefit others, for example, as training
centers for trainers.
I
John McCallum
Australians are beginning to discuss
the potential for the export of expertise in
aging and free exchanges of experiences in
the region so that Asia can become
regionally self-sufficient in aging expertise.
In the 1980s, maternal and child
health (MCH) was the priority in
many Asian countries and we could
not get aging on the agenda. In the
1990s, MCH and other economic
programs are still high on the
agenda, but in countries such as
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand,
they are beginning to talk about
national plans and small allocation
funds for aging projects.
It is difficult to find funding for
humanitarian projects on aging.
Many donor agencies believe that
once you have an aging society,
you have a wealthy country and it
does not need aid. What they do not
Gary Andrews
recognize are some of the more specific
problems caused by aging and rapid social
development.
Migration of Young People
For instance in Thailand, the old-age
structure of rural populations, due to the
migration of young people to urban areas,
has brought public media attacks on
family planning. People young and old
who migrate to squatter settlements have
no access to services. Moreover, in the
new big cities in Asia, there are many old
people who are not poor and are assumed
to be taken care of by their families. In
reality, the family members are out to
work or school during the day, and they
are old people stuck at home alone or
with a maid and are very lonely. These
problems are only being recognized by
non-governmental organizations at this
time.
The biggest problem in the area of
aging is not in medical services as it is
often believed. The establishment of
welfare services is the problem. The
question is how to make the transition
from welfare homes to aged care service
homes and to keep in mind that old
people have special needs such as
dementia.
Australia has expertise in coordi
nating and putting together a national
aged care system. By coordinating, I
mean among different service types such
as acute and long-term care and among
different levels of service national to
local government. It is time for Australia
to learn from Japan about exporting her
experiences. JOICFP’s aging seminars
and experience-sharing among Asian
countries have been very effective in
spreading new ideas. There is an
enormous job to be done in aging and this
can only be accomplished through
cooperative efforts.
[7]
5
Japan
Promoting Integrated Healthcare
The use of mass examination and Integrated Parasite Control & Family
treatment of parasites as a practical Welfare Project, Dooars Branch, Indian
means to stimulate awareness of health Tea Association, who attended as an
issues was emphasized in a unique set of observer.
The 15th event of its kind, this year’s
resolutions made at the 15th APCO
Parasitologists’ Meeting, held in Tokyo meeting was sponsored by the Japan Keirin
from July 19 - 21. Highlighting the Association and the Hoken Kaikan Group
effectiveness of using mass parasite and was organized by the Japan Association
control (PC) as an entry point andpartner of Parasite Control (JAPC) in cooperation
for other healthcare activities such as with JOICFP.
family planning (FP) and maternal and
The resolutions were created in view
child health (MCH), the resolutions of next year’s UN International Conference
reaffirmed the commitment of the Asian on Population and Development and
Parasite Control Organization (APCO) reaffirm the conviction of the APCO group
group of experts to supporting health of experts to continue its strong support to
and welfare activities in developing develop integrated healthcare in other
countries, particularly through the regions of the world. Outlining the benefits
promotion ofthe Integrated Project (IP). of using mass PC integrated with other
The resolutions, which reviewed the health and welfare activities, the resolutions
contributions made by APCO to the note the low-cost and simple-technology
promotion ofintegrated healthcare, also advantages of PC and the immediate impact
emphasized the effectiveness of sharing that the activities have on community
Japan’s postwar experiences in people who see worms expelled after
community-based health promotion.
treatment. The resolutions point out that
by quickly improving the health of the
people, PC helps build trust between the
Insights into Field Activities
health worker and the community people,
Attended by 31 participants including who in return are more likely to participate
leading parasitologists and healthcare in activities to improve their health and
officials from 11 countries, the meeting take initiative in securing safe drinking
consisted of presentations of research water and improving environmental
reports and discussions. JOICFP sanitation.
Chairman and APCO Secretary Chojiro
Present at the opening session was
Kunii provided an overview of the Jaehee Wilder, director, UNICEF Tokyo.
progress in IP-implementing countries Addressing the participants, Wilder
in his secretary’s report and updated commented that her organization is
participants on events concerning APCO interested in APCO’s experience “in
and JOICFP. Insights into the promotion promoting mass parasite examination and
of the IP in the field were also provided treatment, using relatively simple, lowby Dr. D. N. Chatterjee, project director, cost technologies, and with the participation
of mothers, school teachers
and children, as an entry
point
into
broader
community health and
development activities.”
“Another important principle
that you have successfully
maintained is to make all
those activities selfsustaining both from systems
and financial points ofview,”
she said. “I very much look
forward to strengthening our
cooperation with JOICFP
and APCO, in our common
effort to improve the health
and well-being of children
and women, and in
empowering communities to
help themselves.”
[J]
Participants share information and experiences.
6
Growing Support
for NGOs
The Ministry of Posts and
Telecommunications announced on June 18
that JOICFP will receive assistance from
funds donated by the Japanese public to
support projects implemented in six coun
triesfor the period ofJuly 1,1993 - June 30,
1994. Allocatedfromfunds collected through
the Voluntary Deposit for International Aid
(VDIA) scheme during fiscal 1993 (April 1,
1992 - March 31, 1993), the assistance
earmarked for JOICFP projects amounted
to a total of ¥50.122 million (US$411,000 at
an exchange rate of ¥122 to US$1). The
assistance allocated this year will support
the ongoing projects in Brazil, Guatemala,
Mexico, Nepal, Tanzania and Zambia, which
received initial VDIA support last year.
VDIA Scheme
Coordinated by JOICFP, the funds will be
used to purchase equipment and materials
and dispatch experts to support the activities
implemented by non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in the respective
countries under the Integrated Project (IP).
The majority of the IP activities supported in
the countries are community-based and are
geared to raising the levels of health and
welfare of women and children.
The VDIA scheme, administered by the
ministry, was launched in January 1991 to
assist Japanese NGOs implementing projects
in developing countries. Under the scheme,
members of the Japanese public commit 20%
of the interest earned on deposits in VDIA
accounts held at post offices to support the
Japanese NGOs which work with local NGOs
in developing countries.
Growing Account Holders
Despite a dramatic increase in the number
of account holders to 10.45 million (as of
March 31, 1993) from 6.74 million (as of
March 31, 1992), the amount of funds
collected in FY1993 declined due to a drop in
the interest rate on the accounts. The fall
in the interest rate from an annual average
of 3.1% in FY1992 to 2% in FY1993 was
reflected in the total amount of funds collect
ed under the scheme which dropped from
¥2.32 billion in FY1992 to ¥2.185 billion in
FY1993. The interest rate for VDIA accounts
is currently 1.56% (as of July 1, 1993).
Overall, VDIA assistance was approved
for 240 projects this year, down from the 250
of last year. A total of 524 proposals for
VDIA funding were submitted by 341
Japanese NGOs this year.
Meanwhile, the number of VDIA account
holders continues to swell in Japan as the
scheme attracts attention from people of all
ages as a practical means to assist people in
developing countries.
JOICFP NEWS, September 1993
In the News
Japan’s
Elderly Rise
as TFR Dips
Elderly households soar as
total fertility rate sinks to
historic low of 1.50
Japan s birthrate continued tofall in
1992 with the total fertility rate (TFR)
hitting an all-time low of1.50, according
to a report from the Ministry of Health
and Welfare (MOHW). Thefigure, down
0.03 from 1991, is far below the
replacement level fertility of 2.1.
The ministry also reported that the
total number of births fell in 1992 to
1,208,977 in 1992, down 14,268 from
1991. The natural increase rate — the
difference between those who were bom
and those who died — was 353,541 in
1992, down 39,907 from 1991, according
to the government.
The falling birthrate, expected to reach
its lowest point in 1994, is gaining
considerable attention by the government
which is concerned about the rapid aging
of the Japanese society and the burden
that increased pensions and social costs
will place on younger
tax payers.
In its analysis of
the declining births,
the ministry noted the
decline in the number
of women of child
bearing age and
pointed to the increase
in the number of
women choosing to
marry later after
pursuing
higher
education and careers.
The
average
marriage age for a
woman marked a
postwar high of 26.0,
while that for a man
was 28.4 in 1992.
Moreover, recent
related
surveys
indicate that marriage A young family in Tokyo.
is losing its allure for
a growing number of people in Japan. The from 82.11 in 1991.
MOHW reported that the number of
Indicating the graying of Japanese
divorces in Japan marked an all-time high society, the number ofelderly households
of 179,198 in 1992.
hit a record in 1992, the MOHW reported.
Meanwhile, the average life According to the report, the number of
expectancies of Japanese men and women households headed by single men over
remained the longest in the world, 65, women over 60 or couples where
according to the MOHW. The average life both are older than those retirement ages,
span of Japanese men declined slightly to marked 4.88 million in 1992. The figure,
76.09 in 1992 from 76.11 in 1991, while up 3.6% from 1991, was triple the number
Japanese women averaged 82.22 years, up of 17 years ago.
[J
An Active Role for the Media
Toshihiro Horiuchi, editorial member,
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation),
took part in an international media seminar
organized by UNFPA in Lisbon, Portugal,
from June 30 - July 2. Held ahead of the
release of UNFPA's 1993 State of World
PopulationReport, the seminar gave special
attention to the report’s theme ofmigration
and covered a number of topics including
population trends; the relationship between
population and development; and the vital
role that the status of women in society
plays in determining population growth and
economic development. On return to Japan,
Horiuchi highlighted several issues in a
report on the seminar. Below are some
highlights of his comments.
The seminar provided valuable input for
the media, particularly ahead of the
International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD) to be held in Cairo,
Egypt, in September next year. Migration,
the theme of this year’s seminar, affects
countries on a domestic level, but we should
recognize that migration is an international
issue. The domestic affairs of a country
JOICFP NEWS, September 1993
reflect the world situation; people move as
refugees and migrant workers as a result of
international issues.
In an overview of the world situation, UNFPA
emphasized that population is growing rapidly.
In its highest projection, UNFPA estimates that
the world’s population could reach 30 billion
by the end of 22nd century.
In its assessment of migration issues,
UNFPA’s report notes many reasons such as
political, environmental, economic and social
issues for people to move, but stresses that the
world is finite and that there will come a day
when there is nowhere to move. As repre
sentatives of the mass media, our job is to
identify the reasons why people resort to
migration.
We reviewed migration situations around
the world. In Europe, for example, many
countries invited foreign workers to support
economic growth, but as their economies
slowed, many are sending these people back
and are restricting access. This kind of treatment
will be cause for North-South conflict in the
future. The pressing issue for developed coun
tries is to assist developing countries to attain
k view of the seminar.
sustainable development. One very
important factor is human resource
development. By assisting the South in
promoting education, the North will
contribute to the sustainable development
of developing countries.
The world is considered borderless in
terms of communications and travel. But
this concept does not apply to mass migra
tion and refugees. We need to work towards
a peaceful North-South coexistence since
we are all members of the same global
family.
7
Voice of Voices
By Chojiro Kunii
A New Bridge
My colleagues and I recently visited
China as guests of the State Family
Planning Commission of the Chinese
government. We were invited to attend a
commemorative ceremony at the Great
Hall of the People organized by the
government as an expression of appre
ciation for the contribution that the
Integrated Project has made to China.
The project has now been expanded to
cover 16 provinces in China. It applies
many of Japan’s postwar experiences in
development and health and its
acceptance at the grassroots indicates
that the people consider its approach as
effective.
Twelve members of our mission
representing Japan and JOICFP listened
to the words of appreciation expressed
by the Chinese participants. Approx
imately 150 Chinese representatives
joined the event attended by Dr. Wu
Jieping, vice chairman, Standing
Committee of the National People’s
Congress, and Minister Peng Peiyun of
the State Family Planning Commission
among others. In response, we expressed
our strong wish that the IP in China will
continue to develop and expand.
IP Training Center
During the field visit to Taicang
County in Jiangsu Province outside of
Shanghai municipality, I visited the
building site of the IP Training Center.
We had previously discussed the plans in
Beijing and the Japanese team had very
high expectations for this center which
represents a very significant bridge
between Japan and China.
On return to Japan, we organized a
meeting to report on the visit. A video
film prepared by our Chinese colleagues
documented the above events and was
very useful in this meeting. The mission
members from JOICFP, the Japan
Association of Parasite Control and the
Hoken Kaikan Group spoke in detail on
the assimilation of the IP in China.
We were asked many questions by
the members of the press, medical
associations and preventive health at the
meeting. Discussions were also held on
how the agricultural cooperatives and
women’s associations in Japan can
cooperate with China in the future.
Further practical cooperation efforts such
as those initiated under the IP will be
expected of Japan.
[J]
8
DIARY
JOICFP Program Officer Hideyuki Takahashi
visited Ethiopia to attend a tripartite IP review
meeting and visited Kenya to hold discussions
with officials of IPPF and the Kenyan
government while in Africa from June 6 - 20.
*
*
*
Dr. Hirofumi Ando, deputy executive director,
accompanied by Jyoti S. Singh, director,
Technical and Evaluation Division, UNFPA,
visited JOICFP to exchange information while
in Tokyo from June 21 - 24.
*
*
*
Cecile Joaquin-Yasay, executive director,
Philippine Legislators’ Committee on
Population and Development, visited JOICFP
on June 28 to exchange information.
*
*
*
Heather Lynch, Henry Luce scholar, visited
JOICFP on June 30 and July 1 to exchange
information about school health programs.
*
*
*
Katsuhide Kitatani, consultant, UNFPA,
accompanied by Kyoichi Nakamura,
information officer, Information and External
Relations Division, UNFPA, attended a press
conference on the state of world population on
June 30 while in Japan from June 25 - July 3.
*
*
*
JOICFP Program Officer Sumie Ishii and staff
member Sono Aibe were in Laos to prepare for
the UNFPA-supported “Sustainable
Community-based FP/MCH Project with
Special Focus on Women” and in Thailand to
exchange information with UNFPA officials
while out of Japan from June 27 - July 10.
*
*
*
An 11-member Chinese mission led by Yao
Jianhe, director, Family Planning Commission,
Yu Yao City, Zhe Jiang Province, was in Japan
from June 28 - July 11 to study community
based healthcare including parasite control
activities under a seminar organized by the
JAPC in cooperation with JOICFP.
*
*
*
Eight participants from eight Asian countries
took part in the Seminar on Population Aging,
held in Japan from July 5 -16. The theme of the
seminar was “health promotion and medical
services for the elderly to meet the changing
needs of an aging population.
*
*
*
JOICFP Program Officer Hiroshi Taniguchi
was in Indonesia from July 8 - July 21 to gather
information for Integration magazine.
*
*
*
Dr. Adi Sasongko, project director, IP, Yayasan
Kusuma Buana, Indonesia, was in Japan from
July 11 -14 to hold discussions with JOICFP in
preparation for the Management Workshop to
be held in Indonesia from October 14-23.
*
*
*
Colleen Cording, education resource
consultant, Asia/Pacific Region, Tampax Health
Education Service, and EmikoOkazaki, brand
manager, Marketing Division, CBIC, visited
JOICFP to exchange information about IEC
materials for women’s health on July 20.
*
*
*
Representatives from 11 countries participated
in the 15th APCO Parasitologists’ Meeting,
held in Tokyo from July 19 - 21. The event
was organized by JAPC in cooperation with
JOICFP.
*
*
*
Dr. Hirofumi Ando, deputy executive
director, UNFPA, visited JOICFP on July 28
and 29 to exchange information.
• *
*
*
Lamine N’diaye, director, Africa Division,
UNFPA, and Dr. Richard Turkson, regional
director, Africa Regional Office, IPPF, were
in Japan from July 26- July 31 to participate
in the 6th Tripartite Meeting for the Africa
Region and to meet with Japanese
government officials.
*
*
*
A nine-member evaluation team organized
by JOICFP was in Vietnam from July 26 Aug. 6 to exchange opinions with key persons
involved in the IP and to observe community
based healthcare and development activities.
The mission was accompanied by JOICFP
Program Officer Sumie Ishii and staff
member Mariko Honma.
(Documentary Series
A New Documentary Film
Maria
33 mins., Color; English, Spanish, Japanese
Our latest documentary film features Iwo Marias
from Guatemala — a country over 50 percent of
whose population is comprised of indigenous people.
Nana Maria, a traditional birth attendant and faith
healer who still follows the Mayan tradition closely, strives
Io protect the health and decrease the burden of the
women in her village. City-dweller Maria Teresa wishes
to get closer to indigenous women like Nona Maria.
This touching film outlines the awakened women
trying to protect themselves through action.
Distributed by
Sakura Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
Yoyogi Center Bldg,, 57-1 Yoyogi 1-chome
Shibuyo-ku, Tokyo 151, Jopon
Tel: 81 -3-3320-6311 /Fox: 81 -3-3320-7666
Telex: J34799ITCINBTH
16mm ♦ VTR (Beta, VHS/NTSC, PAL, SECAM)
JOICFP NEWS is a monthly newsletter
published by the Japanese Organization for
International Cooperation in Family Planning,
Inc. (JOICFP).
JOICFP NEWS welcomes your comments,
suggestions and contributions. Please mail to:
JOICFP NEWS
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Phone: 81-3-3268-5875
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Telex: 2324584 JOICFP J
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JOICFP NEWS, September 1993
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