JOICFP NEWS NO._234_DECEMBER_1993
Item
- Title
- JOICFP NEWS NO._234_DECEMBER_1993
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^0, 234 December 1993
HeALTH CE«
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ISSN 0911-0755
JOICFP NEWS
Nutrition - a Key Issue for Africa
PANFRICO IV notes importance of strengthening nutrition activities to assist FP promotion
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Participants of PANFRICO IV in Banjul, The Gambia.
Nutrition, particularly malnutrition
among children and mothers, is a major
concern in almost all African countries.
How nutrition education and measures
can be effectively incorporated into
maternal and child health (MCH)
services is a crucial issue and has an
important bearing on child survival,
women’s well-being and the promotion
offamily planning (FP). In light of this
situation, the 4th Regional Workshop on
the Integrated Project (PANFRICO IV),
held in Banjul, The Gambia, from
September 27 - October 1, focused on
the importance of nutrition to promo
tion of the Integrated Project on FP,
Nutrition and Parasite Control (IP) and
on developing strategies for tackling
nutrition within a community context.
Held biannually since 1987,
PANFRICO serves as a forum to promote
the IP in Africa and for participants to
share experiences. Attended by 50
participants from 15 countries including
local observers, the meeting was
organized as a regional activity with
support from UNFPA. Financial
assistance was also provided by IPPF,
which covered the costs of representa
tives of FP associations from the Africa
region. The organization, which
appointed an officer-in-charge of the IP for
Africa, has continued to show strong
support of the project and has indicated a
desire to assist the FPAs of Sierra Leone
and Guinea to initiate the project.
Participants were drawn from the five
IP-implementing countries of Ethiopia, The
Gambia, Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia and
the non-IP countries of Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Guinea, Kenya, Namibia,
Nigeria, Madagascar, Senegal, Sierra
Leone and Uganda.
JICA Represented
Officials of UNFPA, IPPF and JOICFP
also attended the meeting along with two
representatives of the Population Education
Promotion Project of the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA). The first
JICA members to join a PANFRICO
meeting, the representatives expressed a
desire to expand collaboration in the future.
Dr. Shigemi Kono, professor of demo
graphy, International School of Economics
and Business Administration, Reitaku
University, and JOICFP councilor,
contributed as a resource person.
The meeting was opened with a speech
by Gambian Minister of Health and Social
Welfare Alhaji Landing Jallow Sonko, who
stressed the importance of population
issues. He added, “We will continue to
utilize the IP approach in our health
strategy as a means to strengthen our
MCH and FP services through the
network of our health services.”
A strong message of support for the
IP approach also came from the UNFPA
representative at the meeting. “It appears
that MCH services, nutrition and FP
programs are ideal partners in promoting
and protecting health and well-being of
the whole family,” said Wilma Goppel,
UNFPA country director for The Gambia.
“It is important to consider gender
inequalities that women experience not
only in healthcare and education, but
also in nutrition and food intake,” she
said.
IPPF Support
The concept of the IP is very close to
the thinking of the IPPF, said Gladys
Azu, senior program officer, IPPF Sub
regional Office. Noting the commitment
of the IP to community participation, she
said that IPPF had embraced the project
since its start in 1974. “The IP translates
some of our macro-problems to the level
where all development problems and
programs should be,” she said.
The meeting provided a forum for
participants to review different situations
in IP countries and discuss how nutrition
can be incorporated into the IP to further
increase FP acceptance. In recommend
ations made at the end of the meeting,
participants called for strengthening of
the nutrition component of the IP without
losing focus of the principal objective,
FP promotion. To improve the nutrition
component, participants stressed the im
portance of government commitment and
policy guidance; analysis of the nutrition
situation in the planning of action;
community sensitization and partici
pation particularly of men in project
implementation; effective intersectoral
coordination of nutrition and FP
strategies; and nutrition education, [g
1
Africa
Sharing Keys to Success
The decision to hold PANERICO IV
in The Gambia brought benefits to both
participants and the people promoting
the Integrated Project (IP) as the field
trip to IP areas not only stirred active
discussions at the meeting, but stimulated
project personnel to refine implementa
tion. The workshop, held September 27
- October 1, includedfield observations
of IP areas in Mandinari, a semi-urban
village with a population of 8,400, and
Munyagen, a rural area with a population
of 4,000. Initiated in 1988, the IP is
implemented by the Gambia Family
Planning Association (GFPA) under the
National IP Steering Committee.
Among the positive aspects of the
project pointed out by participants were
the efforts made by GFPA to enter
communities and gain the participation
of the people in the project. Noting that
GFPA is giving education high priority
in the project, the participants commented
that awareness creation is a key issue to
enhancing community participation.
The visitors suggested that effective
management by the local steering
committee is an important factor for
GFPA to consider in its efforts to make
the project self-supporting. The
assistance of the community itself was
also noted as crucial to IP sustainability.
Giving the example of how a broken water
pump in Munyagen could be repaired
through a community campaign,
participants emphasized that the people
have to be willing to make efforts them
selves to maintain project momentum.
Community Motivation
In comments to GFPA, the Zambian
representative reiterated the importance of
the local steering committee as a driving
force in motivating the community to take
part in such community activities as repair
of the pump. He also suggested that funds
earned from different types of local income
generating activities such as soap-making,
handicrafts and dying could be used to
support project activities. The represen
tative from Ethiopia added that the people
could also be encouraged to join hands in
rennovating the dispensary.
For participants from non-IP countries,
the firsthand observation of IP activities
was an enlightening experience and a
chance to share keys to successful program
promotion. To sustain activities, the
representative from Cameroon suggested
The Power of
Community
Spirit
A monitoring team from Japan had
positive comments to make about the strong
commitment shown by the staff members
and community workers of the Integrated
Project (IP) in Ghana. In the country from
October 3 - 8, the mission visited established
IP villages and one new IP village where the
members held discussions with repre
sentatives of local steering committees,
project managers, field workers and
community people.
While in Ghana, the team also visited the
maternal and child health (MCH)/family
planning (FP) clinic in Awutu where
members observed MCH/FP clinic-day
activities including health education, child
growth monitoring, immunization and FP
counseling.
Headed by Dr. Shigemi Kono, professor
of demography, International School of
Economics and Business Administration,
2
Children of Bontrase village.
Reitaku University, the mission had valuable
comments to make on how to improve project
implementation. In particular, Kono suggested
ways to improve data collection and evalua
tion of such information as infant mortality,
maternal mortality and birthrate to demonstrate
progress in IP areas.
Citing poverty as a barrier to FP promotion
and improvement of the situation of women,
Kono noted the efforts made by project
personnel and community-based distributors
(CBDs) to promote women’s development.
Income-generating activities such as gari
processing, he added, had helped women in
villages such as Bontrase to establish funds for
use in such activities as immunization.
The existence of misconceptions about FP
The Ethiopian participant speaks with
a mother at a dispensary in an IP area.
the establishment of a people’s bank to
which people could donate funds for the
development of the project. Another
suggestion to promote sustainability was
offered by the Kenyan representative,
who urged that a fee-charging system be
initiated to generate funds.
Commenting that project components
were very clear, the representative from
the Central African Republic said that
the political commitment was a very
important factor to success.
Providing participants with an open
forum for comments and discussions, the
field observation was welcomed by both
GFPA and participants as a valuable
learning experience.
g]
among community people was noted during
discussions with field workers and project
staff. As a result, stress was also placed on
strengthening education and counseling
activities to familiarize people with FP,
which is an alien concept in many rural
communities. The community acknow
ledged that the IP activities have done much
to improve FP acceptance and bring down
infant mortality.
In response to requests, the project
coverage was expanded this year to take in
another six adjacent areas. Educational
activities such as film shows to raise
awareness of the IP and FP have already
been launched and CBDs are being
identified in respective villages for training.
In his comments about the new IP village,
Kono said he was impressed that the local
steering committee had already been
establi shed and was composed of influential
people. The results of a baseline survey of
the new areas, conducted earlier this year,
will be released in the near future.
Commenting on the smooth planning
and organization of the project, Kono
suggested that the IP be further expanded in
the future. The test of the IP will be in a
more remote area, he said, where significant
efforts and funds will be required for
implementation.
JOICFP NEWS, December 1993
Latin America
Bridging
Distances
A boat donated through
theVDIA scheme helps
bring services to people
The absence of effective
transportation is one of the An IP worker prepares to cross Lake Atitlan.
major barriers to improving the
way of life in the 11 municipalities of When disasters strike such as a recent
Solold State in Guatemala where the earthquake, even the tracks become
Integrated Project (IP) is being impassable and villages can only be
promoted. In many of the villages reached by boat.
It is in such conditions that the boat
surrounding Lake Atitlan, a rough
mountain track is the only land link to donated to the IP through the Voluntary
neighboring communities, and Deposit for International Aid (VDIA)
commodities must be carried on foot. scheme contributes to improve the way of
life in the communities. Donated last
year through the fund, which is admin
istered by the Japanese Ministry of Posts
and Telecommunications, the boat is
being used by the IP staff based in San
Lucas Toliman to promote the family
planning (FP), maternal and child health
and primary healthcare activities of the
project.
The VDIA funds have also been used
to produce and distribute 8,000 MCH
handbooks, which are being used to
promote MCH in the IP areas. To further
enhance health promotion, 35 health kits
were purchased with VDIA funds and
have been distributed to traditional birth
attendants, FP promoters and volunteers
working in the IP communities.
[5]
Words of Thanks
0
The MEXFAM mission with VDIA
Director Terutoshi Sano (center).
r-
' 1
I*
Nakamura and members of the Charity Club of Morimura Gakuen Junior High
School with one of the sewing machines to be donated to Brazil.
A visit to Japan gave Dr. Milton
Nakamura, president, Center for
Maternal and Child Health/Family
Planning (CMI/PF), an opportunity to
express his gratitude to the Charity Club
of Morimura Gakuen Junior High School
which has been providing support to the
people living in Brazil’s Sao Paulo. The
club, composed of student representatives
and mothers, has been sending used
clothing to Brazil through the Catholic
Church in Sao Paulo. During his visit to
the school on September 22, Nakamura
explained about the activities of the
Integrated Project (IP) which is being
promoted in favelas (slums) in Sao
Paulo. In response to Nakamura’s visit,
JOICFP NEWS, December 1993
the club agreed to send 15 sewing machines,
clothing and stationery to IP areas.
Prior to visiting the school, Nakamura
paid a courtesy call on September 21 to
Mayor Keiji Ohba of Setagaya City. A
member city of the Municipal Coordinating
Committee for Overseas Bicycle Assistance
(MCCOBA), Setagaya will send 50
reconditioned bicycles to the IP areas in
Brazil in January 1994. Another 25
bicycles will be sent by Arakawa City at
the same time.
On the same day, Nakamura also visited
the Office of the Voluntary Deposit for
International Aid (VDIA), Ministry of Posts
and Telecommunications where he met
with Office Director Terutoshi Sano. 3]
A four-member mission from the
Mexican Foundation for Family Planning
(MEXFAM) expressed gratitude for
assistance from the Japanese people during
visits to a local government office in Tokyo
and the Office of Voluntary Deposit for
International Aid (VDIA), Ministry of
Posts and Telecommunications, on
September 27. Led by Ramona Pando de
Cosio, president, MEXFAM Board, the
team visited the Bunkyo City Office where
itmetwithMayorMasanori Endo. During
the meeting, the MEXFAM group
conveyed thanks for the city’s role in the
donation of reconditioned bicycles to
Mexico through the Municipal Coordin
ating Committee for Overseas Bicycle
Assistance (MCCOBA). Since 1990, the
Integrated Project (IP) areas in Mexico
have received 375 bicycles through the
donation activities, with another 150
scheduled to arrive by the end of 1993.
At the Ministry of Posts and Telecom
munications, meanwhile, the Mexican
group expressed appreciation to Terutoshi
Sano, director, VDIA Office, for the three
years of assistance that MEXFAM has
received through the VDIA scheme.
Explaining MEXFAM’s efforts to
promote self-reliance, the visitors
commented that the assistance had helped
the community doctor scheme.
3
Indonesia
The Community
as a Driving
Force
r li
Jakarta workshop highlights community
participation as strategy for FP/MCH
program sustainability
of the Integrated
Program of Family Health and
Family Planning Participants observe Posyandu activities.
Services
of
Indonesia and was organized in collab
oration with JOICFP. The meeting not
Posyandu
only served to introduce the FP/MCH
program of Indonesia to participants, but
also provided an opportunity for the
To provide a basis for discussion of
representatives to share their country’s the Indonesian experience, the workshop
experiences in community-based FP/MCH included an introduction to the country’s
promotion among themselves.
system of integrated service posts, or
“This workshop provides a good Posyandu, that offer FP/MCH services
example of South-to-South cooperation, at the community level. First organized
which I know is very much supported by in the 1980s as a means to stimulate the
the Indonesian government,” said Ali Ugur community to take action for health, the
Tuncer, UNFPA country director, Posyandu have been developed over the
Indonesia. Speaking at the opening of the years with the support of the government
workshop, Tuncer said, “I am sure you will into one of the key forces in promotion of
gain from the rich Indonesian experience FP/MCH in the country. The Posyandu
in this field and adapt, at least some of it, activities are held on a regular basis and
in your own project areas.” Calling on conducted by women volunteers drawn
participants to discuss and exchange ex from the local community with the
periences on strategies utilized in their support of health officials.
respective countries, the UNFPA official
expressed UNFPA’s support of the
Targeting MCH
regional activity.
Primarily aimed atreducing the infant
mortality rate (IMR) and maternal
mortality rate (MMR), the Posyandu
services fall into five categories: growth
monitoring of under-5-year-olds; FP
services; nutrition for pregnant mothers;
immunization; and monitoring of highrisk pregnancies. The Posyandu are
implemented at the village level
nationwide and are carried out on a
monthly basis. On the service day, trained
volunteers and community people assist
the paramedical staff from either the local
government or NGO to conduct services.
To meet the changing needs of
Indonesia’s FP program, the aim and
scope of FP services including those
provided through Posyandu have been
adapted over the years. From a national
FP program “for the people,” the activities
Participants visit a day care center established by IPPA.
developed into a program “with the
The effectiveness of mobilizing the
community to actively participate in
family planning (FP)/maternal and child
health (MCH) activities was one of the
valuable lessons learned by participants
of the Workshop on Effective Strategies
for Sustainable Community-based FP!
MCH Project with Special Focus on
Women, held in Jakarta, Indonesia,from
October 14-23. The participants, who
used Indonesian experiences as a case
study, also noted the importance of
political commitment to FP/MCH
programs and the effectiveness of
coordinating the efforts ofthe government
and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) in the field.
The workshop was conducted as part
of the Asian regional project entitled
Sustainable Community-based FP/MCH
Project with Special Focus on Women
(RAS/92/P11) implemented by JOICFP
with the support of UNFPA and IPPF. It
was attended by 17 representatives
promoting FP/MCH from the countries
of Bangladesh, China, Laos, Nepal, the
Philippines and Vietnam. The workshop
was hosted by the Coordinating Forum
4
JOICFP NEWS, December 1993
Indonesia
people” and finally into one that is now
conducted “by the people.” Under the
present orientation, the government is
aiming towards FPprogam sustainability.
Accordingly, fee-charging for
contraceptives is now being introduced
nationwide. To promote acceptance of
FP, ensure quality of care and access to
services for all community members, the
government assists with the training of
doctors and midwives in FP provision
and provides contraceptives at a price
below retail level.
Role of NGOs
The integrated FP/MCH and primary
healthcare services being conducted by
Yayasan Kusuma Buana (YKB) in
Jakarta offered participants insights into
how an NGO can effectively achieve
sustainability by offering a mix of good
quality services and by actively working
to create awareness. Operating six FP/
MCH clinics in Jakarta, YKB serves
lower socioeconomic urban populations
by offering an integrated package of
parasite control, FP and MCH services.
With the support of doctors, the clinics
are run by midwives who provide highquality services on a fee basis.
Outreach Services
Outreach services are also provided
from the clinics through such activities
as mothers’ classes, urban Posyandu
services and through training traditional
birth attendants to provide quality care
and health education in FP/MCH to the
women in the community. During the
workshop, participants were introduced
to some of the methods used by YKB to
stimulate participation in the project and
acceptance ofFP. These activities include
awareness creation through the school
health program conducted by YKB and
the placing of posters in local shops.
The activities conducted by the
Indonesian Planned Parenthood
Association (IPPA), meanwhile, offered
participants another angle on FP/MCH
program self-reliance. Among the
innovative approaches used by IPPA is
the utilization of day care centers as an
entry point to promoting FP/MCH
activities to mothers. The participants
also got acquainted with the NGO’s
activities at youth counseling centers.
Both these initiatives are promoted under
the concept of self-reliance. Participants
were introduced to IPPA’s system of
JOICFP NEWS, December 1993
Participants of the Jakarta Workshop.
charging for nutrition education activities
for children at day care centers and for
providing community education talks.
Strategies
The introduction to a range of
approaches gave participants a sound basis
to identify strategies for sustainable FP/
MCH programs. Noting the accom
plishments of the Posyandu, YKB and
IPPA, participants agreed that the
participation of the community was the
key to program sustainability. They also
highlighted the role of the NGO to initiate
and strengthen community participation
and the importance of cooperation with
relevant government organizations, other
NGOs and community groups.
In summing up lessons learned through
the workshop, participants also under
scored the importance of government
commitment to making FP a priority
program and to expanding it to include
MCH and family welfare programs. It was
also emphasized that political
commitment needs to be transmitted to
all political, religious and other informal
leaders, government personnel and
NGOs, and that people must be convinced
that the success of FP is necessary for
improving the quality of life.
Among the other strategies outlined
were quality of care, empowerment of
women, effective management and
human resource development. The
importance of adolescent education and
counseling was also stressed by partici
pants, who called for consideration of the
balance between social and economic
development.
Regional IP Activities
The workshop was well-timed to
coincide with the start of regional IP
activities in four out of the six countries
represented at the event. Enlightened by
what they had learned in Indonesia, the
participants returned home ready to apply
their newly acquired strategies to
strengthen their respective programs. [J]
WORKSHOP EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR ,
COMMUNITY- BASED FP/MCH PROJECTS WITH SP
__
JMiBW: M - 23 OCTOBIB1933
Ali Ugur Tuncer, UNFPA country director, Indonesia, (center) addresses
workshop participants.
5
In the News
A People’s
Project in
China
Dr. Richard Cash, lecturer, Inter
national Health, Harvard School of
Public Health, and fellow, Harvard
Institute for International Development,
conducted an independent evaluation of
the Integrated Project (IP) in Chinafrom
October 4-17. He spoke to JOICFP
HEWS on October 18 about his impres
sions. Below are the highlights.
I was very impressed with what I
saw. It is a tribute to JOICFP, the State
Family Planning Commission, China
Family Planning Association and the
province, and most importantly, it is a
tribute to the people at the prefectural
and county level, because there is clearly
a lot of enthusiasm. People are very
proud of what they have done and they
have been doing very good work.
I did not assess numbers so much.
The statistics are all there and show an
improving trend. It will be interesting to
see how much of the project spreads out
beyond the IP area, because the IP’s real
success will be in whether it is able to
Dr. Cash interviews a couple in Yunnan
Province about FP practice.
influence other counties and beyond that.
I was impressed by how the IP has been
able to get different groups to work to
gether, to integrate much more than what
is usually done at the central level. By
integrate, I mean getting various institu
tional groups at the county and community
level to work together. There seemed to be
good communication between the groups
and they seemed to be aiming at a common
goal, which is improving the lot of the
people in “our” county or in “our” towns.
At the local level, the setting up of steering
committees was clearly important in
helping to develop integration.
I noticed that each community had
selected its own set of priorities under the
project. In one, it was construction of
toilets. In another it was paving a road, and
in another it was procuring safe water. In
this situation, the role of the IP is to
educate people as to what the possibilities
are, what they can do, and to provide
examples.
For anything to work, it has to appeal
in some way to people’s self-interests.
That can also be defined as the interest of
the community: “If the community
prospers, I prosper.”
China has had a very strong FP
program for many years, but the IP is
clearly building on this. However, for IP
to bring about a statistical increase in
FP acceptance would be very difficult.
But what it can do is contribute to the
further development of these com
munities. It can assure the people that
the services can be high quality and
reliable. In doing so, it can ensure that
whatever has been done will continue in
the future, that whatever ground has been
laid is strengthened. So that in five years
from now, people will continue to desire
small families.
I think JOICFP is right. If people are
not desirers of FP — if they don’t see the
importance of doing this for themselves
and the community — the high accep
tance rate won’t hold. People will slip
back into having larger families. But I
think both the government and the IP
have made the people aware of the
advantage of having smaller families. [J
Gearing Towards Self-reliance
The Foundation for Integrated Services
on Health and Development (FISHDEV)
celebrated four years since its foundation
in 1989 with renewed determination to
achieve self-reliance by providing highquality integrated healthcare. Among the
new initiatives undertaken by the founda
tion is the operation ofthe Philippine-Japan
Friendship Family Health Clinic in Las
Pinas, Metro Manila, which is providing a
range ofhigh-quality medical services on a
fee-charged basis. The clinic, which was
recently upgraded to a mini-hospital, was
established with the support offunds from
the Voluntary Depositfor International A id
(VDIA) scheme ofthe Japanese Ministry of
Posts and Telecommunications. The
allocation of funds and purchase of
equipment for the mini-hospital were
executed by the Japan Family Planning
Association (JFPA).
Staffed by one resident doctor and 10
paramedical personnel including nurses,
midwives and medical technicians, the mini
hospital is also a contract base for a broad
spectrum of medical professionals including
gynecologists, pediatricians, dentists,
6
surgeons and specialists in internal medicine.
With the VDIA support, FISHDEV has procured
a range of equipment such as an X-ray machine
and an ECG machine, and has improved the
laboratory facilities at the mini-hospital to be
able to provide mass health checkups to
employees of businesses and factories in the
nearby commercial and industrial areas. The
mini-hospital also has a maternity ward with
six beds.
*
’’’s'i#'
\
Official Ceremony
Dr. Vicente M. Katapang, resident
doctor (right), in the delivery room
with staff and a mother and newborn.
Under the leadership ofFISHDEV president,
Dr. Carmen Garcia, former director of the
Commission on Population, and FISHDEV
executive director, Rolando Maulion, the mini
hospital has already achieved self-reliance.
Since opening as a clinic in 1991, the mini
hospital’s income has exceeded expenditures.
To mark the renovations, an official ceremony
was held on October 27 which was attended by
the mayor of Las Pinas.
In its efforts to achieve self-reliance,
FISHDEV has continued to emphasize the
importance of good quality and reasonable
prices. By doing so, it has been able to cater to
the health needs of people in the mid- to
low-income bracket who are willing to pay
reasonable fees for services.
While maintaining self-reliance remains
a major driving force for the mini-hospital,
it is continuing to support welfare activities
such as nutrition advice and maternal and
child health (MCH) checkups for the people
in Las Pinas on a non-profit basis. By the
end of this year, FISDHDEV will also have
established a laboratory geared to preventive
healthcare in Molave Municipality,
Province of Zamboanga Del Sur.
JOICFP NEWS, December 1993
In the News
“How to get an AIDS test”; and “Life in the
era of AIDS.” The production of the
panels was supervised by a leading
authority on AIDS and sex education. Dr.
Satoshi Takeda, professor, Department of
Education, Chiba University.
Designed for ease of use, the seven
panels each weigh only 750g, yet measure
84.1 x 59.4 x 1.0cm. The panels are
framed with aluminum and can be either
Japan Family Planning Association be displayed on the surface of a table or
(JFPA) is helping to destroy some of the hung on a wall. A set costs ¥12,000
myths about AIDS and to stir preventive (US$90 at the official 1993 exchange rate
action in Japan by produc
of ¥122 for US$1). The
ing and marketing unique
panels are designed to be
educational materials.
displayed in health centers,
Designed to be visually
municipal
government
ga&T-iv.
Moa.VTP
appealing and easy to
offices, hospitals, schools
understand, the materials
and businesses.
include a set ofseven panels
The OHP transparencies
and a set of 11 overhead
and cards, meanwhile, were
projector (OHP) transpar
created as guides to aid
j
r
encies with 11 cards. The
teachers and instructors. The
i-!■» it-;.•; w<
io«®>
organization created the
a ROTHS®Bit<©l«Mr tt
ttA..
cards are designed for use
;i: I. C V’KKSWWti
tt h.
materials to meet the short
with small groups, while the
fall in visually orientedAIDS One of JFPA’s panels. transparencies were created
educational products that
to assist instruction of groups
offer ready access to information. larger than 10. Both sets contain the same
Although AIDS information is available information and feature color visuals.
in a variety offorms, such as pamphlets
To give instructors flexibility, the OHP
and videos, fewformats offer the appeal transparencies can be written on with an
and simplicity ofJFPA’s materials.
erasable marker pen. Both cards and trans
To aid understanding of the parencies come in a hard-cover folder
information, the seven panels each have measuring 27 x 29 x 3.6cm and offer
a different theme: “What is AIDS”; “How simple explanations and illustrations on
do people get infected with HIV”; “What one side and teaching tips on the reverse
happens when a person is infected with side. Teachers are free to write their own
HIV”; “How to prevent HIV infection”; script with the cards. A set of transparencies
“AIDS — this is how you can prevent it”; and cards costs ¥30,900 (US$2,533). [J]
Innovative
AIDS
Education
■MM. SHIS
i
h
Promoting WID in Jordan
high birthrate and rapid population expan
Founded in 1977, the Queen Alia Fund
(QAF) has been promoting social develop
sion,” she said. “This places very big burdens
ment in Jordan for 15 years by providing
on services; so we are now very concerned
with trying to relieve this situation.”
social services, and educational and
vocational training at the grassroots. The
Noting that FP is a very sensitive issue in
Jordan, Princess Basma said
fund, which is the country’s
that a program for birth spacing
principal non-governmental
organization (NGO), oper
had recently been adopted
ates a network of over 40
nationally. She added that
both JOICFP and QAF shared
community development
many mutual priorities in their
centers. Under its women’s
approaches including a shared
programs, the fund targets
emphasis on health education
such areas as literacy, health,
skill training family planning
activities.
“We’d very much like to see
(FP) and the environment.
Princess Basma
a fostering and promoting of
Princess Basma Bint
Talal, chairperson, QAF,
relations between Japanese and
introduced the activities of the fund and
Jordanian NGOs, particularly in this field,
and we would be delighted if we could explore
expressed concern for population issues in
Jordan during a meeting with JOICFP
the possibility of further cooperation through
Deputy Executive Director Yasuo Kon on
some of the services we offer in Jordan in this
October 13 in Tokyo. “Jordan has a very
regard,” she said.
JOICFP NEWS, December 1993
Learning from
Experience
In 1951 Iwate Prefecture had one of the
highest infant mortality rates (IMRs) in
Japan at 9O.4%o. The national average at
the time was 57.5%o. By 1991, however, the
prefecture’s IMR was one of the lowest in
the country at 3.9%o against the national
average of 4.4%o. They key to this dramatic
turnaround was the prefecture’s massive 30year maternal and child health (MCH)
campaign. Fora 10-memberteamfromChina,
a study trip to Iwate yielded many insights
into the potential of family planning (FP)l
MCH activities and the power ofusing public
health staff to penetrate the community.
Led by Xie Mingdao, director. Family
Planning Commission (FPC) of Sichuan
Province, the team was in Japan from October
28 - November 10. After receiving an intensive
introduction to Japan’s FP/MCH activities,
the team moved from Tokyo to Iwate where
members observed a variety of facilities and
activities of both government and non
governmental organization (NGOs). The team
included representatives of provincial FPCs
and FP associations and the State Family
Planning Commission and China Family
Planning Association.
During their visit to Iwate Prefecture, the
study team members visited the prefectural
government, a primary school and the
prefectural public health center.
The team’s visit to Isawa Town in Iwate
coincided with the town’s annual health
promotion festival geared to motivating the
community on health issues. While in the
area, the team called into houses of farming
families and a local agricultural cooperative,
and observed government health checkups
for 3-year-olds. For insights into.an NGO’s
activities, the team visited Iwate Health
Service Association, which began with
parasite control promotion and expanded into
broad preventive healthcare. It also visited
the Iwate Rehabilitation Center and the Child
Health Promotion and Medical Treatment
Center.
Participants observe a primary school
class in Mizusawa City.
7
Voice of Voices
By Chojiro Kunii
South-to-South Cooperation
Six years ago in Jakarta, Indonesia, an
organization called Yayasan Kusuma Buana
(YKB), or the Family Health Foundation,
was formed. Under the leadership ofexecutive
director, Dr. Firman Lubis, the organization
began parasite control (PC) activities. With
the support ofpeople sympathetic to the cause,
YKB was able to find the best approach to
these activities. This movement was joined
by Haruo Nagaki of the Hoken Kaikan and his
involvement encouraged the Hoken Kaikan
Group to extend cooperation. After several
visits to the Hoken Kaikan by people from
Jakarta, the exact terms of cooperation were
decided.
Community Participation
Our mission at the Hoken Kaikan was to
provide the Jakarta team with direct insights
into Japanese experiences. Activities in
Jakarta started with a mass PC campaign for
primary school children, which was conducted
with the full participation of the community
and was incorporated in school health
activities through the board of education.
These activities are all aimed at community
development. The key points of this
movement were to rid children of parasites,
and motivate parents to pay for the services.
This small experiment eventually spread to
other primary schools. The Japan Association
of Parasite Control sent several technical
support teams to Jakarta to teach staff and
volunteers the various techniques needed to
the conduct PC activities.
Government Cooperation
This movement was expanded with the
cooperation of the city government ofJakarta.
The PC activities were further strengthened
by the fees paid by parents who were happy to
pay for services. As a result, the number of
cases examined rose from 10,000 within the
first year to 50,000. As more schools joined
in, the number examined increased further to
200,000 cases.
This voluntary movement for school health
has served as a stimulus to the midwives who
work at YKB’s six clinics. The self-reliance
achieved by the PC activities have also
bolstered YKB’s family planning (FP) and
MCH and its activities have smoothly been
accepted by the community.
The BKKBN (National Family Planning
Coordinating Board) of Indonesia and
Population Minister Haryono S uyono are now
working towards the goal of South-to-South
cooperation in FP. We hope that the activities
of YKB will serve as a model for the programs
of non-governmental organizations.
[J]
8
ANNOUNCEMENT
2nd Regional Technical Committee Meeting on Sustainable Community-based FP/
MCH Project with Special Focus on Women
JOICFP is organizing the above meeting under the joint auspices of UNFPA and
IPPF in cooperation with the Japan Family Planning Association.
Date:
January 18-22, 1994
Venue:
Tokyo, Japan
Participants: Representatives from Bangladesh, China, Laos, Nepal, the
Philippines, Vietnam, UNFPA, IPPF and other related agencies
Objectives: To review the project implementation of 1993 and discuss
workplan for 1994
DIARY
Dr. Adem Ibrahim Mohammed, director,
Bureau of Health, Oromia Region, and Dr.
Mathewos Wakbulcho, coordinator, IP,
Ethiopia, paid courtesy calls to the mayor of
Musashino City on Sept. 6 and to the mayor of
Arakawa City and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on Sept. 10.
*
*
*
Dr. Gottlieb Mpangile, director of programs,
Family Planning Association of Tanzania
(UMATI), paid courtesy calls to the mayors of
Itabashi, Arakawa and Shizuoka cities; the
director of the VDIA Office, Ministry of
Posts and Telecommunications; and Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, while in Japan to attend
the Seminar on FP Administration for Senior
Officers, held Aug. 23 - Sept. 10.
*
*
*
Twelve participants from 12 countries taking
part in the Women Leaders of Farm
Household Development attended a oneday FP seminar at JOICFP on Sept. 27.
JOIC9?? ‘Documentary Scries
A New Documentary Film
Maria
33 mins., Color; English, Spanish, Japanese
Wheels Turning
Healthcare services are now being brought
to the doorsteps of many people living in
rural communities in Michoacan State in
Mexico thanks to the donation of a
reconditioned mobile chest X-ray van by
two Japanese non-governmental organi
zations (NGOs). The medical team using
the X-ray van, which is operating on an
outreach basis in villages with no resident
medical practitioners, is providing integrated
primary healthcare, family planning (FP),
parasite control and medical consultation
services under the Integrated Project (IP)
being implemented by the Mexican Family
Planning Foundation (MEXFAM). Fees
are being charged for all services provided
from the van to support the self-reliance of
the activities. The van was donated by the
Tochigi Tuberculosis Prevention
Association and Tochigi Health Service
Association with the assistance of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which covered
part of the shipment costs. The donation
was coordinated by JOICFP. Prior to being
sent abroad, the van was used for mass
tuberculosis testing in Japan. The van got
off to a positive start on August 28 after the
official donation ceremony was held at a
village in Morelia, Michoacan State.
Following the ceremony, which was
attended by 200 locals, a large queue of
villagers formed outside the van for medical
consultations. The van is expected to help
raise the level of health and increase health
awareness in the villages of Michoacan State,
which has one of the highest tuberculosis
infection rates in Mexico.
Our lotest documentary film features two 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
to protect the health and decrease the burden of the
women in her village. Citydweller Maria Teresa wishes
to get closer to indigenous women like Nana 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
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151, Japan
Tel: 81-3-3320-6311/Fax: 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
Hoken Kaikan Bekkan
1-1, Sadohara-cho, Ichigaya
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162 Japan
Phone: 81-3-3268-5875
Facsimile: 81-3-3235-7090
Telex: 2324584 JOICFP J
Cable Address: JOICFP Tokyo
JOICFP NEWS, December 1993
Position: 3646 (3 views)