JOICFP NEWS NO. 238 APRIL 1994
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- JOICFP NEWS NO. 238 APRIL 1994
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NO. 238 April 1994
ISSN 0911-0755
JOICFP NEWS
Japan Boosts Population & AIDS Funding
Japan’s pledge demonstrates its determination to take a leading role in tackling population issues.
Japan pledges US$3 billion to
address population & HIV/AIDS
issues in developing countries
Japan showed its determination to take a
leading role in tackling global population issues
on February 11 by pledging US$3 billion over a
period of seven years (1994 - 2000) to expand
its official development assistance (ODA) to
assist developing countries address population
problems and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Announced at the conclusion of the Japan-U.S.
summit in Washington D.C., the pledge was
part of the joint initiative on population and
HIV/AIDS agreed on at the summit. The two
countries will also expand collaborative
research and related personnel exchanges under
the agreement.
The announcement was welcomed by
representatives of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in Japan who expressed
their hope that the two governments will target
NGOs to effectively utilize the funds to reach
people living at the grassroots. Noting the
proximity of NGOs to community people, the
representatives commented that NGOs are
better placed to meet the needs of the people.
They added that investments in NGO activities
are ultimately more practical and cost-effective
than major institutional investments in such
projects as large hospitals and infrastructure.
Under the “U.S.-Japan Initiative on
Population and HIV/AIDS - Common Agenda
for Cooperation in Global Perspective,” the
U.S. government also expects its contribution to
population and HIV/AIDS-related programs to
continue at a high level, totaling approximately
US$9 billion over the 1994 - 2000 period. Both
governments also urged other nations and donor
organizations to expand their efforts in this field
as well.
In developing countries where population
growth and HIV/AIDS is seriously affecting
development, Japan and the U.S. agreed to
strengthen financial and technical support. The
promotion of family planning (FP), basic health
and medical care related to maternal and child
health, primary education and improvement in
the status of women will be included in this
comprehensive approach.
Japan and the U.S. also agreed to increase
the funding of bilateral population programs in
developing countries, including the
construction of facilities, provision of
equipment and contraceptive procurement, and
will cooperate to improve the capabilities of
multilateral agencies involved in population
including UNFPA and IPPE
1
Meanwhile, the two countries agreed to
coordinate their bilateral assistance activities on
population in priority countries throughout the
developing world. In population work, Japan
and the U.S. agreed to operate in mutually
strengthening technical capabilities through
staff and information exchanges and support of
NGOs actively involved in population efforts in
developing countries. B oth governments also
agreed to cooperate closely to make the
September International Conference on
Population and Development in Cairo a
success. The governments reiterated a common
goal to make FP services and information
“universally available,” as agreed on at the 1984
Mexico City Conference.
In addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the
two governments agreed to continue to enhance
their support of multilateral efforts such as the
WHO Global Program on AIDS. Japan and the
U.S. also agreed to seek opportunities for
mutual cooperation in their bilateral assistance
programs on HIV/AIDS prevention and control,
including commodity procurement and support
to NGOs. Coordinated efforts will include
focused action in priority countries.
The governments of Japan and the U.S will
also expand
collaboration on
HIV/AIDS
research, training
and the exchange of
research scientists
and health officials,
including
cooperation through
the U.S.-Japan
Cooperative
AX »
Medical Sciences
Program. The 10th
Japanese Prime Minister
International
Morihiro Hosokawa
Conference on
AIDS, to be held in
Yokohama in August 1994, was noted as a
unique opportunity for collaboration in assuring
a successful global HIV/AIDS effort.
S'''
' Photo courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
China
CfPA Faces Challenge of
Self-reliance
into
Raising Service
Quality
alleviate fears of a lack of
financial support in old age.
The integrated approach being
pursued by CFPA has many
The 10-day visit to Japan provided the
similarities to the Integrated
Chinese study team with insights into ways to
Project (IP), which has been
pursue self-reliance in programs integrating FP
implemented in China under the
with other healthcare-related activities. While
joint collaboration of the State
in Japan, the team spent time in Tokyo and
Family Planning Commission
Hyogo Prefecture. In Tokyo, it visited self(SFPC), CFPA and JOICFP with
reliant preventive healthcare organizations
1
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X-j
the support of IPPF. By
belonging to the Hoken Kaikan Group. The
integrating FP with other
group, which comprises 10 organizations
including JOICFP, grew out of the preventive
healthcare
and
community
The team listens to an explanation of activities at the
Hyogo Health Service Association.
development activities, both
health activities including parasite control, FP
approaches aim to make FP more
and MCH started in the early postwar years by
a handful of pioneers with the aim of improving
attractive and enhance voluntary
The concept of program self-reliance is
acceptance. Prior to the initiation of the IP,
the quality of life for community people.
taking on greater meaning for the China Family China had been promoting FP services on their
In Tokyo, the team spoke with staff and
Planning Association (CFPA) as it seeks ways
own, an approach that had met with some
observed activities of the Tokyo Health Service
to raise the quality of services and promote
resistance from the people.
Association, which provides such services as
Promoting
income-generating
activities
has
program sustainability. With these goals in
health checkups on a mass scale for local
mind, a six-member CFPA delegation led by
proved to be one of the more attractive and
governments and businesses. The Chinese team
Standing Vice President Chang Chongxuan
also visited the Japan Family Planning
successful approaches to winning FP
spent 10 days in Japan from March 2 -11 to
acceptance. Under its integrated approach,
Association (JFPA), which maintains selflearn about the Japanese experience. In
CFPA is providing loans to community people
reliance through the provision of counseling
particular, the team was interested in the
to start enterprises such as animal husbandry.
and educational services and the production of
IEC materials related to sex education,
strategies employed by private Japanese
The association has found that once couples
healthcare organizations, which have been
learn entrepreneurial skills and improve their
adolescent health and FP/MCH.
extremely successful in raising service quality
economic situation, they are less likely to want
In Hyogo, meanwhile, the Chinese visitors
and achieving self-reliance.
large families and are more accepting of FP.
were introduced to the activities of the Hyogo
Established in May 1980, the CFPA is a
As the number of couples voluntarily
Health Service Association and visited the
member of IPPF and is guided by the policies
accepting FP increases, one of the major
Consumers’ Cooperative Kobe. The team also
of the Chinese government. With over 915,000 challenges facing CFPA will be to ensure that
paid a visit to Yokawa Town to observe the FP/
member associations nationwide, CFPA has a
services are always available when required and MCH services being provided by the local
government in collaboration with local
membership of 57 million people (as of June
that the services are of high quality.
1993). The association is involved in a variety
community volunteers.
of activities including service provision, I EC,
The trip to Yokawa also
training, experience sharing and international
provided the team with
exchange. In 1992, 2.7 million training courses
an opportunity to view
were held at member associations.
some of the local
CFPA recently launched a new program
government’s IEC
titled “Integrated Women’s Income-generation,
activities.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and FP
The insights into
Project.” Supported with IPPF and local
Japanese strategies for
government funding, the project is aimed at
self-reliance were
teaching women agricultural skills and
particularly wellreceived by the
technology and use of income, while providing
Chinese visitors who
MCH services, and seeks to encourage
voluntary acceptance of FP. About 7.8 million
aim to apply their new
young women have been participating in this
knowledge in China to
improve services and
project. As part of its efforts to raise FP
acceptance, CFPA has also established
enhance project
The visitors observe nutrition education volunteers in Yokawa Town.
insurance schemes for one-child couples to
sustainability.
2
JOICFP NEWS, April 1994
Symposium
Focusing on Population,
Environment & Poverty
The issues of population, environment and
poverty alleviation were high on the agenda of
a symposium organized by the Ministry of
Posts and Telecommunications and the Japan
Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) in Tokyo on
March 11. Attended by 700 people, the
symposium was aimed at creating awareness of
population and related issues among the
Japanese public. The event was scheduled to be
broadcast on the Saturday Forum program
featured on the educational channel of NHK on
April 9 from 9:45 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. To convey
the rapid speed of world population growth, the
“Population Clock III” produced by UNFPA
was featured on a screen at the venue and
clearly showed the increase in world population
that took place during the event.
Under the theme of “Save Our Full
Spaceship Earth,” the organizers highlighted the
role of humankind
in the destruction of
the environment. In
’s ''’yp'j
an outline of
J
estimated
population growth
provided to the
audience at the
symposium, the
Alvin Toffler
organizers noted
that the world’s
population is expected to grow from 8.5 billion
in 2025 to hit 10 billion in 2050.
Another feature of world population
highlighted at the symposium was the
difference in population characteristics between
the developed world, where nations are
experiencing lower numbers of children and
higher proportions of elderly, and the
developing nations where birthrates are
explosive. Noting that issues such as
international migration, lack of food, depletion
of natural resources and environmental
destruction are all linked to population growth,
the symposium called on people to consider
what appropriate action should be taken to
ensure quality of life for the next generation.
Keynote speaker at the symposium was
Alvin Toffler, world-famous sociologist and
author of such popular books as Future Shock,
Power Shift and The Third Wave. Providing an
outline of his view of history, Toffler said that
humankind faced its first revolution 10,000
JOICFP NEWS, April 1994
years ago during the agricultural
revolution and its second 300 years
ago during the industrial revolution.
Today, he said, humankind is
confronted by the “third wave” as it
faces the age of
“informationalization.” In the face
of these dramatic changes,
humankind needs to call on its
wisdom to prepare properly for the
future.
Toffler went on to comment that
•dhlj 14 oJtli
t
coercive population programs were
not the right solution to population
The poster for the symposium.
problems. Noting that such
programs conflict with human rights
issues, Toffler called for better solutions
based on the wisdom of humankind.
(ICPD), to be held in Cairo, Egypt, in
Another speaker at the event was Joseph
September, and called on the Japanese
Van Arendonk, deputy executive director,
government to demonstrate initiative at the
UNFPA, who provided an overview of
conference and show leadership in action on
population trends in the 21st century and
world population.
stressed that population issues remain a priority
Meanwhile, the effectiveness of the non
for humankind. Providing insights into
governmental organization in reaching the
solutions for population problems, Van
grassroots was highlighted by Professor
Arendonk emphasized the effectiveness of
Akihiko Yoshida, Sanno Junior College, Japan,
investing in women, particularly by answering
who served as another speaker at the event.
their needs in health and education. He also
While official development assistance (ODA) is
highlighted environmental issues as deserving
extremely important, the role of NGOs should
attention, noting that problems related to the
not be overlooked, he said.
environment have now become global issues.
To highlight the population issues of people
The UNFPA official also reminded the
living in developing countries, clips from
audience of the upcoming UN International
NHK’s video library were shown on screens
Conference on Population and Development
that served as a backdrop to the symposium.
UN Population Awards
President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and the Family Health and Planning
Foundation of Turkey have been chosen to share the 1994 UN Population Award,
according to a UN announcement on February 24.
President Mubarak was chosen for his national and international leadership in
population issues. Since becoming president in 1981. Mubarak has introduced family
planning (FP) and population issues into the country’s five-year plans and has stressed the
need to stabilize population growth during his two terms as the president of the
Organization of African Unity.
Meanwhile, the Family Health and Planning Foundation of Turkey was selected for its
successes in raising the quality of FP services. The foundation has been addressing the
country’s population issues through education and publicity activities and has developed
its own contraceptive distribution service, linking FP to a broader range of services.
3
Latin America
Gaining a Clearer Picture of Youth
Behavior
Woritshop participants discuss issues.
The results of the first national survey of
adolescent behavior in the Dominican Republic
fueled active discussion among participants of
the Seminar/Workshop on the Behavior of
Young People in the Dominican Republic, held
in Santo Domingo on February 17 and 18. The
product of a three-year project, the survey
results provided a range of insights into sexual
behavior among youth.
The survey, conducted from 1992 by
Profamilia (Family Planning Association of the
Dominican Republic) and Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention (CDC),
highlighted the
early start of sexual
activity, a high
proportion of
unwanted
pregnancies and the
incidence of
Leo Morris
sexually transmitted
disease. In
discussions of the
results, it was noted that similar issues affect
young people throughout Latin America and the
Caribbean and that adolescent health education
is now a priority issue in many regions.
Part of JOICFP’s regional activities in Latin
America, the seminar was organized by
Profamilia, the Mexican Family Planning
Foundation (MEXFAM), CDC and JOICFP. It
was attended by over 200 people including
government officials and representatives of
international organizations, youth groups and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Among the key resource persons at
the event were Dr. Leo Morris, chief,
Behavioral Epidemiology and
Demographic Research Branch, CDC,
and Dr. Joan Herold, associate
professor of demography, Center for
International Health, School of Public
Health, Emory University, U.S.
In IPPF statistics presented at the
seminar, participants were told that
5 - 10% of all girls 15 - 19 years old
become pregnant, and that there are
now over 500 million young people in
this age group in the world. If the
same percentage of young women get
pregnant, the number of pregnancies,
and probably abortions, will increase
dramatically, it was explained. Participants
were urged to take a more realistic approach to
adolescent health issues that begins with a
recognition that young people are already
sexually active.
The second day of the seminar was used to
present Mexico’s experiences in the adolescent
health field. Among those shared was the joint
production of animated, educational adolescent
health films by MEXFAM and JOICFP.
Background on the films, Blue Pigeon, Music
for Two and Best Wishes, was presented by
Gabriela Rodriguez Ramirez, director of
communication, MEXFAM.
Insights into how the Mexican experience
can be effectively utilized by other countries
were provided by Dr. Michael Dalmat, Division
of Reproductive Health, CDC, who suggested
ways to strengthen MEXFAM’s activities.
Using findings from his recent qualitative
evaluation of the foundation’s activities, Dalmat
focused on the ways to improve on the
production and use of IEC materials in Mexico
to make them more applicable to other
countries.
The two days of the seminar/workshop
were well covered by local media, which
featured comments by Magaly Caram de
Alvarez, executive director, Profamilia, who
urged the government to establish a formal
system for adolescent health education.
Following the seminar, Profamilia received
word that the survey had been well received by
politicians who would be considering its use to
guide policy formulation.
4
Using Peers to
Educate
Adolescents
A JOICFP mission gained firsthand insights
into the innovative adolescent health activities
promoted by Profamilia in communities during
a one-day observation in Santo Domingo on
February 19. In the education session observed
by the team, young councilors were trained to
educate their peers of 16 -18 years old about
issues such as sexual behavior and family
planning (FP). For the visitors, one of the
striking aspects of the activities was the open
and participatory atmosphere of the training
session in which young people were
encouraged to frankly exchange information on
sexual matters.
As a dynamic NGO working at the
grassroots level, Profamilia has taken the
initiative to launch the peer counseling system
in the face of a lack of formal sex education for
young people. Under the scheme, youth leaders
are selected from their communities and trained
with a variety of techniques including role
playing to serve as a source of information and
support for their peers. Once they return to
their communities, the youths organize
activities at such venues as community centers
to enable the sharing of correct information on
issues that may be considered too sensitive to
be covered in the public school curricula.
During the training session, the JOICFP
team was particularly impressed with the way
that the teens recognized the seriousness of the
issues being presented and understood the
genuine need for adolescent health education.
A young trainee asks a question during the
session.
JOICFP NEWS, April 1994
Nepal
Support from Japan
Reaches the Grassroots
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Volunteers (JOCV) and
JOCV medical
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coordinator, and is wellacquainted with the needs
of the community people.
The trip was
Mukaigawa’s third time
to visit Nepal through
JOICFP to provide
technical assistance to
Women volunteers listen to nutrition education in Panchkhal.
project areas. The visit
also enabled her to
observe whether project
staff were applying the know
how she had taught previously.
Nepal since community people are able to
The technical assistance team was
obtain healthcare services free of charge at
accompanied by two staff nurses, Ashoda Nepal governmental facilities. Therefore, services
and Uma Sapkota, who served as an effective
provided under the project have to be of high
liason between the visiting experts and the
quality to attract paying clients.
project staff. The Nepalese nurses also took an
Another unique strategy of the project has
active part in the training and contributed to the been to focus on women as both project
participatory atmosphere that was created
beneficiaries and service providers. Drawn
during the sessions.
from the community and provided with
To enable the provision of training to the
education in such areas as nutrition promotion,
community health workers and women
MCH/FP, personal hygiene and environmental
volunteers of all 15 project villages in
sanitation, the women serve as a vital link to
Panchkhal, the villages were divided into three
the community for promotion of the project.
groups of five villages. Meetings were also
held for the project managers, village leaders
and members of the village health committees.
Getting Mobile
During the two-day training sessions with
the health workers, the technical assitance team
Reconditioned bicycles from Japan
focused on such issues as improving FP/MCH
are being used effectively in Nepal to
and PHC service provision and effective use of
support the various FP-related activities
IEC materials such as the Magnel Kit,
of the Family Planning Association of
an educational kit used to teach
Nepal (FPAN). Most of a shipment of
reproductive health and FP. The team
150 bicycles donated by the Municipal
utilized visits by local people seeking
Coordinating Committee for Overseas
•I '
services at the CBPHCUs as practical
Bicycle Assistance (MCCOBA) have
opportunities to share information on
been distributed to field workers to
how to improve service provision.
support FPAN’s work in rural
While in the project areas, the team
communities since the shipment arrived
also checked facilities at the
in the country at the end of last year.
CBPHCUs in such areas as storage of
Meanwhile, another 24 of (he
essential drugs, hygiene, efficient
bicycles have been distributed in Sunsari
service provision, record keeping and
District and Panchkhal to support the
maintenance of equipment.
activities of the Sustainable
The provision of high-quality
Community-based FP/MCH Project
services with reasonable fees has been
with Special Focus on Women. The
given priority under the project, which
bicycles serve as a convenient means of
Mukaigawa (left) gives advice to a community field
seeks to achieve service sustainability.
transport,
particularly in the rural areas.
worker in Panchkhal.
This aspect is particularly important in
Funds donated by the Japanese public
through the Voluntary Deposit for International
Aid (VDIA) scheme are being utilized to boost
health promotion and community development
in two districts of Nepal. Allocated by the
Japan Ministry of Posts and Telecommuni
cations, the funds were collected from 20% of
interest of deposits held in VDIA accounts at
post offices throughout Japan. The donations,
handled to JOICFP, have been used to assist
promotion of the UNFPA-supported, regional
Sustainable Community-based Family
Planning/Maternal and Child Health (FP/MCH)
Project with Special Focus on Women at the
country level in Nepal.
This year marked the third year for JOICFP
to receive VDIA assistance for Nepal, which is
being used to support the construction of three
new community-based primary health care units
(CBPHCUs) and to upgrade 12 exisiting units
in the project areas in Panchkhal, Kavre
District. The VDIA support is also being used
to cover technical assistance costs and to supply
community health workers and volunteers with
PHC kits.
As part of the VDIA activities, a JOICFP
team was in Nepal from March 2 - 16 to
provide technical assistance and monitor
progress in project areas. The team, which was
in Sunsari District for two days and Panchkhal
for seven days, included Fumiko Mukaigawa, a
matron of a 300-bed hospital in Japan.
Mukaigawa previously spent five years in Nepal
as a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation
p-
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JOICFP NEWS, April 1994
5
Japan
A Lesson in Collaboration
Participants of the Seminar on Parasite
Control Administration for Senior Officers
noted that the tripartite cooperation among
government, private sectors and experts played
an essential role in the success the parasite
control (PC) activities in postwar Japan that led
to the preventive health and family planning
(FP) movements.
Attended by nine participants from nine
countries, the seminar was implemented by the
Japan Association of Parasite Control (JAPC)
and sponsored by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) in cooperation
with JOICFP. It was held in Tokyo and Kagawa
Prefecture from January 31 - February 18. An
annual event, the seminar served as a forum for
participants to learn about the Japanese
experience in PC and public health activities
and to exchange experiences among
themselves. The event also included a field trip
Toward Closer
GO&NGO
Cooperation
Representatives of six Japanese non
governmental organizations (NGOs) from the
environment and population fields shared
insights into the role of NGOs in assistance
programs in developing countries with officials
of the U.S. Agency of International
Development (USAID) during a meeting in
Tokyo on March 11. Organized by USAID and
attended by
JOICFP, the
meeting was part of
the ongoing
dialogue between
Japan and the U.S.
on economic
development issues
and Japan-U.S.
Carol Lancaster
cooperation.
Led by Carol
Lancaster, deputy
administrator, USAID, the discussions at the
meeting focused on ways to facilitate
to Kagawa Prefecture, which provided
the visitors with insights into strategies
for promoting the self-reliance of
private organizations.
During the visit to Kotonami
Town, the participants learned how
public health nurses had struggled to
gain the participation of the people in
healthcare activities by providing
Participants observe a technician at work in Kagawa
information on health-related matters
Prefecture.
including parasites, malnutrition,
disease, environmental sanitation,
maternal and child health and FP. By
motivating the community, the level of health
sector and experts in health promotion,
particularly in terms of promoting the selfand standard of living were raised and
Kotonami Town developed into a prosperous
reliance of activities. The participants also
town with high-quality community and
welcomed the Japanese approach of using mass
fee-charged PC activities as an effective partner
healthcare facilities.
The field trip underscored the effectiveness to other healthcare components such as MCH
of collaboration among government, the private and FP and as a means to achieve self-reliance.
collaboration among government organizations
Lancaster said that achieving sustainable
(GOs) and NGOs. Lancaster began by stating
development requires a bottom-up approach
that the U.S. and Japan are cooperating in many which recognizes the important role of the
beneficiaries in the development process.
areas, and because the U.S. considers NGOs to
be a natural partner in development assistance,
NGOs are effective in this bottom-up approach
since they are close to the grassroots and can
that the question is often asked if U.S.-Japan
cooperation also extends to NGO collaboration. assess local needs well, she said. Another way
After a brief introduction of activities by
that USAID addresses sustainable development
and participation is by supporting indigenous
the NGO representatives, Lancaster and Paul
White, USAID minister counselor for
NGOs in developing countries, she added.
development cooperation at
the U.S. Embassy, responded
to questions about USAID
Partnerships with NGOs
activities.
Lancaster explained that
As a non-governmental organization (NGO) involved
the Clinton administration
in the field of population, JOICFP participated in the
emphasizes grassroots
“Professional Development Day” activities on February 25,
development and said that
which were part of the 1994 Cooperating Agencies’
USAID’s mandate is to lead
Meeting held in Washington D.C. from February 22-25.
the fight against endemic
Organized by the Office of Population of USAID, the day’s
poverty, environmental
events attended by JOICFP concerned the role of the NGO.
degradation and
Focusing on joint government-NGO collaboration in
overpopulation. To meet
the population and family planning (FP) field, the day’s
these challenges, USAID is
events were attended by major U.S. NGOs and
pursuing a mission of
representatives of USAID from throughout the world.
sustainable development by
IPPF was also represented at the event.
concentrating on four critical
Encouraged to attend the meeting by the USAID
areas: economic growth,
representative at the U.S. Embassy in Japan, JOICFP
population and health, the
provided insights into grassroots promotion of integrated
environment and democracy,
healthcare and FP.
she said.
6
JOICFP NEWS, April 1994
Japan
Cwaign Sparks Invest
from Japanese Public
A unique scheme launched by JOICFP to
collect and sell used prepaid cards has triggered
a remarkable response from the Japanese public
and proved an effective means of raising
awareness of population issues in developing
countries. Started in September last year, the
“Prepaid Card Fund-raising Campaign” had
prompted the Japanese public to send in an
estimated 250,000 used prepaid cards worth an
estimated ¥2.5 million (US$23,600 at an
exchange rate of US$1 to ¥106) as of the end of
March. The hand-sized magnetic plastic cards,
commonly used for public telephones, rail
transportation and expressway fares, are worth
approximately ¥10 (9 cents) each when sold.
Much of the success of the campaign is due
to the popularity of the cards, which are used
by most members of the public. Also, by
seeking donations of used cards, rather than
cash, JOICFP has found a more willing public
audience for its messages about the way of life
of people in developing countries.
The unique approach of the campaign has
found strong support in the media, which has
carried JOICFP’s call for assistance throughout
Japan. Through regular newspaper articles and
radio broadcasts, JOICFP has also aroused
interest in issues of developing countries by
equating the value of used prepaid cards with
the cost of activities to raise the quality of life.
To illustrate the low cost of healthcare in
developing countries, JOICFP has pointed out
that one used prepaid card can buy three
anthelmintic pills to treat parasite infection.
Noting that the use of unsanitary instruments to
cut umbilical cords is a major cause of death for
newborns, JOICFP made it known that four
used prepaid cards can cover the cost of a razor
to save the lives of babies.
JOICFP has also used the campaign to
highlight the low cost of day care and
malnutrition prevention for children. In
Zambia, for example, six used prepaid cards
can cover the cost of sending a child to day care
for one month where the child would receive
nutrition supplements, while the mother is freed
to work or take part in educational activities.
Meanwhile, JOICFP has also announced that
nine prepaid cards will buy a spoon, which can
be used to promote nutrition education among
community women.
The importance of providing support for
JOICFP NEWS, April 1994
the community health
workers and training for
traditional birth attendants
has also been highlighted
by JOICFP, which has
used the campaign to
publicize such factors as
the high infant and
maternal mortality rates in
developing countries.
Swamped with phone
A volunteer from the Social Welfare Office of Shinjuku City (right)
calls and letters, JOICFP
assists with responses to donors.
has not only found a
willing ear in the public,
but has attracted the support of large enterprises campaign.
Teachers have also found the campaign
and institutions such as hospitals and schools.
effective for educating children about
A number of institutions, stores and companies
have set up information networks and prepaid
developing countries. One teacher in Kyushu,
for example, noted that the campaign had
card donation boxes to support the campaign.
helped make the concept of international
Meanwhile, four volunteers from the Shinjuku
City Social Welfare Office are assisting JOICFP cooperation seem less abstract for her students
to count cards and handle correspondence.
by providing them with an easy way to take part
Many of the responses to the campaign
in assistance to developing countries.
have been touching and shown the genuine of
The campaign continues to draw an
concern of the public for population issues
enthusiastic response from the public as the
affecting people in developing countries. One
media heats up its support for the activities with
elderly woman working on a ferryboat in
wide and constant publicity. As a result of the
Hokkaido as a cleaner, for example, collected
attention, more people in Japan have learned
192 prepaid cards on the boat to be used to
about the needs of people in developing
improve the welfare of people of other
countries and have come to understand that
countries. Also, an elderly man in Hokkaido
even a little contribution made in Japan goes a
long way in another country.
collected 633 cards from phone booths for the
A Learning Experience
JOCV members listen to a presentation at
JOICFP.
7
Ten, members of the Japan Overseas
Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) gained
insights into the Japanese experience in
family planning (FP) and maternal and child
health (MCH) and the community-based
approach of JOICFP’s Integrated Project
(IP) at a JOICFP seminar on March 8. To be
dispatched by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) to developing
countries in Asia, the Pacific. Africa and
Latin America, the volunteers comprised
staff nurses and public health nurses.
VOICE OF VOICES
By Chojiro Kunii
Prepaid Card Campaign
At the end of last year, a journalist from
Kyodo News Service came to our office to
gather information about our used prepaid card
fund-raising campaign. We explained how we
collect and sell the prepaid magnetic cards
(used for public phones and transportation) to
supplement our funds for Integrated Project (IP)
activities in developing countries. After this,
the journalist wrote an article that was
subsequently published throughout Japan, from
Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south.
ANNOUNCEMENT
■
r
■
International Seminar on Family
Planning Administration for
Senior Officers II
The government of Japan will conduct an
international seminar on family planning (FP)
in Japan as part of its technical cooperation
programs for developing countries for fiscal
1994 (April 1, 1994 - March 31, 1995). The
seminar will focus on effective administration
of FP and maternal and child health (MCH)
programs at the central and local levels by
DIARY
- JOICFP Deputy Executive Director Yasuo
Kon, Program Officer Sumie Ishii and staff
member Sono Aibe were in Thailand and
Laos for an orientation workshop in
Vientiane, Laos, from Dec. 16 -17 and to
monitor the UNFPA-assisted regional
program.
- JOICFP Program Officer Aiko lijima was
in Nepal from Dec. 10 - 23 to attend the
national workshop and to monitor the
UNFPA-assisted regional project. Dr. Rita
Thapa, member, Country Support Team,
joined lijima to provide technical assistance.
- Joseph Van Arendonk, deputy executive
director, UNFPA, was in Japan from Jan.
10 - 16 to conduct the mid-term review of
JOICFP projects under UNFPA support and
to meet with Japanese parliamentarians and
Foreign Ministry officials.
- Catherine Pierce, chief, Women,
Population and Development Branch,
Technical and Evaluation Division, UNFPA,
The result of the publicity was tremendous,
and my staff were busy for days answering calls
and replying to letters from the public. To help
us deal with the response, the Social Welfare
Office of Shinjuku City in Tokyo, where
JOICFP is located, introduced some volunteers.
JOICFP has continued to receive many donated
cards from people with letters expressing their
hope that their contribution would be used to
make life better for the people in developing
countries. I have been very touched by this
generosity of spirit. We have now received an
estimated 250,000 cards worth an estimated
US$23,600.
To build on this campaign, a meeting of
personnel of JOICFP and the Hoken Kaikan
Group was held. As a result, it was decided
calling on Japan’s experience in the field, and
will encourage the mutual sharing of relevant
experiences and knowledge.
Date: August 2 - 28, 1994
Participants: 15 high-ranking FP
administrators/managers to be selected from
Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Egypt,
Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya,
Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, the
Philippines, Tanzania & Thailand
The seminar will be executed by the Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in
collaboration with JOICFP.
For further information, contact the
Embassy of Japan in nominated countries
through the relevant government agency.
o
()
o was in Japan from Jan. 13 - 17 to speak at
o two symposia and visit JOICFP to exchange
y information.
- Dr. John Nagahata Susanibar and Dr.
o Olga Frisancho Gil. Ministry of Health of
Peru, visited JOICFP on Jan. 20 to exchange
information.
O
- Fourteen participants from six countries
::
(: attended the 2nd Regional Technical
() Committee Meeting on Sustainable
CJ Community-based FP/MCH Project with
c Special Focus on Women, held in Japan from
() Jan. 18 - 22.
C) - JOICFP Program Officer Hiroshi Taniguchi
o was in the Philippines from Jan. 19-22 for
O activities related to Integration.
() - A nine-member Chinese study team led by
O Duan mu Yiwen, vice president, FPA of
C' Taicang City, was in Japan from Jan. 24 Feb. 2 to study self-reliance and discuss
plans for the Taicang IP Center with
c representatives of the Hoken Kaikan Group.
C)
8
that all member organizations of the group
would participate in the campaign by contacting
affiliated preventive health and maternal and
child health associations, and other related
organizations and institutions such as social
welfare offices, schools, hospitals and
corporations to expand the activities.
We also agreed this campaign would serve
as a good entry point to introduce JOICFP’s
Integrated Family Planning, Nutrition and
Parasite Control Project (IP) to these
organizations (both government and non
governmental). Once this is done, we hope to
suggest ways that these bodies can cooperate
with us, such as by providing medicine,
vaccines and medical equipment. We will also
make efforts to motivate women’s associations
and students to join these activities. To this
end, we will use our documentary films to show
how the communities in developing countries
have struggled to develop their villages and
improve their health in our project areas.
JOICTT ‘Women's health and Status Series
________ A New Animated Film_________
Twin Lotus
13 min., Color/English, Chinese
A newly-wed couple is just beginning Io live
together in a beautiful riverside district in southern
China. One day the wife collapses from illness
while al work.
Women today must learn about their bodies and
be intent upon maintaining their health so they can
lead more self-reliant lives.
This film, from the Women's Health and Status
Series, is a Japan-China joint production that uses
an animation technique based on a traditional
paper-culling method.
Distributed by
Sakura Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
Yoyogi Center Bldg., 57-1 Yoyogi 1-chome
Shibuyo-ku, Tokyo 151. Japan
Tel; 81-3-33206311/Fox: 81 3-3320-7666
Telex: J34799 ITCINBTH
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, Ichigaya Sadohara-cho
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162 Japan
Phone: 81-3-3268-5875
Facsimile: 81-3-3235-7090
JOICFP NEWS, April 1994
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