NO. 227 MAY 1993.pdf

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extracted text
ISSN 0911-0755

No. 227 May 1993

JOICFP NEWS
Facing New Challenges

JOICFP passes 25-year milestone with renewed vigor

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Images of the IP: parasite control in China; maternal and child health in The Gambia; and family planning in Mexico.

JOICFP marked its 25th anniver­
sary on April 22 this year. Established in
1968, the organization was initially
charged with creating awareness within
Japan of population issues and
campaigning for increases in govern­
ment funding to UNFPA and IPPF. In
1974, JOICFP took to the field and be­
gan promoting projects stressing
community participation in family
planning (FP). Primarily aimed at
improving the health of women and chil­
dren and raising the standard ofliving at
the community level through the
promotion of integrated healthcare and
health-related activities, the project
became known as the Integrated Family
Planning, Nutrition and Parasite Control
Project (IP). Since its launch, the IP has
spread to over 24 countries in Asia,
Latin America and Africa.
Within Japan, efforts to work with
legislators and to secure support for
population activities have paid off, and
today, the contributions of the Japanese
government to UNFPA and IPPF are the
largest in the world (US$63.3 million for
1993). Meanwhile, the IP has attracted a
great deal of attention around the world
as an innovative approach to grassroots
healthcare promotion.
In view of the 1994 International
Conference on Population and Devel­
opment (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt, JOICFP
is preparing to offer practical strategies
on South-to-South cooperation and the

role of the non-governmental organization
(NGO) in population and development
activities. JOICFP has already demon­
strated the effectiveness of South-to-South
cooperation through exchanges organized
under the IP on a technical cooperation
between developing countries (TCDC)
basis. With TCDC, healthcare personnel
of different developing countries have been
able to share appropriate experiences to
improve programs integrating FP with other
healthcare components.

South-to-South Cooperation
In the future, JOICFP foresees greater
exchange of experiences through the
establishment of South-to-South training
centers. Indonesia and China are at
present being eyed as bases of technical
training for Asia. The IP has achieved a
high level of success in terms of selfreliance in Indonesia, while in China, it
won strong endorsement by the govern­
ment which recently decided to expand
the coverage to another 10 provinces.
Having worked for many years in the
promotion of community-based FP and
maternal and child healthcare activities,
JOICFP has learned many valuable lessons
from the field. Some of these were
presented at preparatory meetings for the
ICPD held in Denpasar, Indonesia;
Bangalore, India; and Dakar, Senegal.
JOICFP is also strengthening efforts to
stimulate action in Japan on population

and development ahead of the ICPD. To
achieve this aim, it is networking with
other NGOs, parliamentarians, govern­
ment ministries and institutions, expert
groups and the mass media through such
channels as publications and forums.
JOICFP is also planning to organize the
population conference in Tokyo in 1994
prior to the ICPD in cooperation with the
Council on Population Education.
Among other recent activities that
have served to create a domestic support
network for international cooperation are
JOICFP’s reconditioned bicycle and
sewing machine donation schemes.
Carried out jointly with municipal
governments, schools, corporations and
public, the activities are not only
providing practical assistance to people
in developing countries, but are also
attracting wider support and securing
sources of funding for international
cooperation which JOICFP aims to build
upon in the future.
Meanwhile, the IP continues to be
expanded in terms ofcoverage and scope.
For example, a new regional project for
Asia focusing on women was recently
launched in cooperation with UNFPA
and IPPF. In the future, JOICFP will
continue to promote women in devel­
opment and strive to meet new challenges,
while remaining firmly committed to
answering the needs of community
people and improving the quality of
life at the grassroots.
[J]
1

A

Japan

Population
Assistance
a Priority
Japan pledges US$63.30
million to UNFPA in
fiscal 1993
In a strong show of support for
population and family planning (FP)
activities, the Japanese government
increased its financial contribution to
UNFPA in fiscal 1993 (April 1,1993 March 31, 1994). The increase in
assistance, approved by the Diet
(parliament) on March 31 in its fiscal
1993 budget, brought Japans
contribution to the Fund to US$63.30
million, to mark an increase of US$4
million, or 6.75%, over the previous
fiscal year.
With the increased contribution,

Japan is likely to remain the
biggest donor to UNFPA, the
world’s largest multilateral
agency providing population
assistance. Under President
63.30
Bill Clinton, the U.S. has
pledged to resume its assistance
to the Fund, which was halted
70
in 1986 under the Mexico City
60
Policy supported by President
Ronald Reagan. Although the
50
amount of U.S. assistance has
not been finalized, it is likely
40
23.50
| JUX1993
to be resumed near the US$45
1^1992
30
million level pledged by the
1^1991
L%1990
U.S. in 1985.
20
7.00
1985
Japan began providing
10
1980
financial assistance to popu­
1975
lation and FP activities in 1969
1971
with a donation to IPPF and
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
provided its first financial
support to UNFPA in 1971 with
a contribution of US$1.5
million. The scale of the contributions to year’s contribution has yet to be decided
UNFPA has continued to increase and a but it will be higher than the US$15.9
portion of the total contribution is allo­ million allocated last year.
cated each year for IPPF. The amount to be
Japan remains committed to assist­
earmarked for IPPF activities out of this ing population activities around the
world and views its contributions to
UNFPA and IPPF as effective means to
help developing countries come to terms
with health and social welfare problems.
The country also actively assists
population and FP activities on a bi­
However, in terms of U.S. dollars, the figure
lateral basis through such channels as
is dramatically higher. With the change in
official exchange rates from ¥129 in 1992 to
technical assistance.
¥122 for US$1 in 1993, the amount of increase
in dollars is equivalent to a 52% increase in
Bilateral Support
SSGA funds since ¥700 million was worth
US$5.4 million in 1992.
Bilateral support for population and
The total amount provided by the
FP provided through the Japan Inter­
government in subsidies to Japanese NGOs
national Cooperation Agency (JICA) was
working in the international cooperation
also
increased this year to mark ¥1.215
field also increased in the new budget from
billion (US$9.95 million at an exchange
¥340 million (US$2.6 million at ¥129 to
rate of ¥122 to US$1), up 4.4% from
US$1) to ¥440 million (US$3.6 million at
¥122 to US$1).
fiscal 1992. Population and FP activities
in nine countries will receive technical
VDIA Scheme
support through JICA in fiscal 1993:
Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Peru,
In addition to the increase in ODA, the
the Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia and
government approved the establishment of an
Turkey. The agency will also sponsor
information center in Tokyo in autumn this
an international FP seminar held in
year. To be called the “ODA Communica­
Japan this year for which JOICFP is
tion Plaza,” the center will provide informa­
serving as the implementing agency.
tion to the general public about ODA.
One of the highlights of the fiscal
Meanwhile, under the Voluntary Deposit
for International Aid (VDIA) scheme of the
1993 budget was the decision to establish
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications,
a division for the environment and women
Japanese NGOs are receiving funds collected
in development under JICA’s Depart­
from 20% of interest gained on VDIA accounts
ment of Planning. A strong endorsement
held by members of the public to support
of activities to support women and
local NGO activities in developing countries.
environmental protection in developing
In fiscal 1992, a total of ¥2.4 billion (US$20
countries, the move is also expected to
million at ¥122 to US$1) was collected from
have a positive impact on activities
10.45 million VDIA accounts for distribution
carried out in the closely related field
in fiscal 1993.
of population and FP.
[2

Bigger Slice of ODA Pie for NGOs
Non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) received a strong endorsement by
theJapanese government on March 31 when
it passed the fiscal 1993 (April 1, 1993 March 31, 1994) budget authorizing a
significant increase in official development
assistance (ODA) to NGOs. While the total
budget for ODA increased by 6.5% in the
budget, the proportion allocatedfor NGOs
was considerably higher. Perceived as
recognition of the effective activities
conducted by NGOs in developing coun­
tries, the increase in ODA affects domestic
NGOs working abroad as well as local
NGOs in developing countries.
One of the grants affecting NGOs that
received a large increase was the Smallscale Grant Assistance (SSGA)
administered directly by Japanese
ambassadors in developing countries.
Consisting of grants of about ¥5 million
(US$41,000 at an exchange rate of ¥122 to
US$1) for each project, the SSGA funds are
provided in the form of equipment and
materials to NGOs, local governments or
institutions by the ambassador for
community-based projects in such fields
as primary health care, women in
development and agriculture.
In total, the amount of funds for all SSGA
grants was increased to ¥1 billion (US$8.2
million). In terms of Japanese yen, the
figure marks a significant increase of 43%
from the 1992 figure of ¥700 million.

2

JOICFP NEWS, May 1993

South Asia

Inspiring Behavior Changes
A JOICFP team dispatched to the
Dooars district of West Bengal, India,
were told that the promotion ofparasite
control (PC) activities paves the wayfor
improvingfamily welfare at the commu­
nity level. In discussions with the team,
Dr. D.N. Chatterjee, director, Integrated
Parasite Control and Family Welfare
Project, explained that people living and
working in the tea gardens used to have
little awareness of health and welfare
issues. However, the project had
motivated workers and their families to
become involved in health promotion
activities, he said.
The project, which was launched in
May 1991, is being implemented by the
Dooars Branch of the Indian Tea
Association (DBITA) with the support
of the government of India, UNFt’A and
UNICEF. Taking in 125 tea estates of
the DBITA and covering a target
population of450,000 people, the project

is primarily aimed at promoting child
spacing among the people of the tea estates.
Parasite control was selected as a partner
to family planning in view of the high
parasite infestation rates in the project area.
For the estate children aged 14 years and
under, the parasite infection rate is 81.4%.
An effectof poor environmental sanitation,
the parasites had not been controlled prior
to the project due to the lack of awareness
of health issues among the people of the
estates. At present an average of 27.9% of
households have latrines, while more than
half use unsafe water sources.
The main aims of the JOICFP mission,
which was in India from March 8-16, were
to assist with the analysis of the baseline
survey, offer advice in the analysis of the
knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP)
survey and to provide training in PC
techniques for project staff and garden
medical officers. Comprising Dr. Muneo
Yokogawa, professor emeritus, Chiba

A Callfor Action in Nepal
Omer Ertur, UNFPA country directorfor rearrangements—of institutions. But, I worry
Nepal, spoke to JOICFP NEWS on April 2 when such restructuring efforts and re­
in Nepal, where JOICFP is implementing arrangements are made with no identifiable
the UNFPA-supported “Sustainable political commitment to the mobilization of
Community-based FP/MCH Project with internally and externally available resources
Special Focus on Women” in cooperation to curtail Nepal’s population growth, which is
with the Family Planning Association of one of the highest in Asia.
In the near past and present, there have been
Nepal. Beloware highlights ofhis comments.
In Nepal, poverty and rapid population various statements of commitment to control
Nepal’s population growth.
growth increase pressure
However, evidence indi­
on the available resources.
cates that no substantive
To find food, fuel and
action has yet been taken to
shelter, communities are
forced into unsustainable
seriously solve this severe
barrier to the country’s
practices. Poor use of
agricultural land, farming
development.
Under the new demo­
on steep and fragile soils
and poor water manage­
cratic political reality, the
ment mean that thousands
people of this country
deserve special attention to
of hectares of cropland are
the issue of population.
being threatened. Sooner
or later the lives of many
Without special efforts to
Omer Ertur
mobilize mass programs to
people in Nepal will be
solve population growth, Nepal’s planned
affected in a very negative way.
During the past decade, Nepal has made development will not materialize.
The future of Nepal clearly depends on
some recognizable attempts to tackle the
issue of population growth. Many realization of this issue, and upon resolution
population and family planning-related with serious conviction and action.
If all of us shout loud enough and long
arrangements have been made in various
line ministries such as the health and enough, maybe our major concern — that a
education ministries.
development program without a population
The country went through two phases of program is doomed from the beginning —
population policies and programs —- the will be heard. Hopefully, many concerned
population policies of 1984 and 1991. Within voices will reverberate throughout this
these policy frameworks one can find beautiful land so that some serious action to
various arrangements — and later curtail population growth will be taken.
JOICFP NEWS, May 1993

JO
• |

Mothers’ club members learn PC.

University, and Takaaki Hara, director,
Research and Study Department, Japan
Association of Parasite Control, the team
was assisted in the training course by the
project director. Chatterjee, who attended
the APCO Training Course in Bangkok
in 1992, had laid much of the groundwork
for the mission by sharing his knowledge
with project personnel.
Mothers’ Clubs

During their stay, the two experts
attended a one-day training for members
of the mothers’ clubs. The clubs, which
have been fostered in each estate under
the project, are playing an active role in
health promotion. During the session,
the women were trained in subjects such
as FP, oral rehydration therapy and PC.
In comments to the team, the women said
that the project was very meaningful for
the people of the estates who offered
their full cooperation.
The mission learned that the mothers ’
club system has also brought other
positive benefits for the women of the
estates. One of the spin-off effects of
motivating women to work in groups has
been to increase their self-esteem.
Although only about 20% of the women
are literate, most have taken akeen interest
in gaining new knowledge, particularly
concerning ways to raise the standard of
living on the estates.
Noting the positive impact of the
project on the people, Chatterjee
commented that the project cannot
succeed without community partici­
pation. Indicating a strong belief in the
benefits of the project, he said that he
hoped that it would be extended by the
government after its five-year imple­
mentation period ends.
[j]

3

WID

The Power of Many Women's Voices
Creating equality of opportunity between men and women in the
development of cooperatives was the theme of the Asia Pacific
Conference on Gender Planning in Cooperatives, held in Tokyo from
March 1-6. Attended by researchers and representatives of
cooperatives, UN agencies and related organizations, the conference
featured presentations by experts and discussions on ways to reach
women in program planning and strategies to apply when planning for
gender integration in cooperatives. JOICFP NEWS spoke to three of the
invited experts on women in development at the conference. Below are
outlines of their interviews.

Towards Gender Integration
Katarina Apelqvist, chairwoman, International Cooperative
Alliance (ICA) Women's Committee
Women were involved when the women do not have self-esteem, have not
cooperative movement was started. They defined their own values and skills and are
thought that since the cooperative not assertive, they will fall back into a
movement is based on the idea of subordinate role.
democracy and equality that they should
Men also have to go through a process
be involved. But quite soon they — they have to come together and analyze
discovered that they
their roles. They have to
were more or less omitted
understand clearly that
from decision-making
having a dominant role is
functions. Therefore, the
not only connected with
Womens Guild was
privilege, but that it also
has many disadvantages
established. It was active
— suicide, alcoholism,
and lobbying up until
heart failure. In Sweden,
1965 when it dissolved
research has shown that
itself. One of the con­
men are becoming more
ditions under which it
aware of the disadvantages
was dissolved was that
of the male role. Figures
there be a specialized
Katarina Apelqvist
on men’s participation in
women’s committee —
child rearing are most encouraging and
the ICA Women’s Committee.
The ICA Women’s Committee is an research shows that fewer men are willing
expertise group. As women, we see to sacrifice their families for their jobs.
At the moment, I think many women
ourselves as experts in women’s
situations, conditions, skills and values, are doubtful about sharing power on men’s
and as representatives. We are initiators conditions. The whole labor market is
and a lobbying group, consultancy group based on male values and not all women
and advisory body to the ICA, and to the will accept to share power on these terms
— and they should not anyway. Accepting
cooperative movement as a whole.
When I look at the cooperative power on men’s conditions should never
movement, I believe the goal is to have be a goal. But women have to accept it as
gender-integrated cooperatives. But in a sub-goal or they will not get into the
many countries this is not possible due to boardrooms. Neither can a woman go
religious, traditional or socioeconomic further on her own. Women need to
constraints. Therefore, I always talk organize, to get the support of other
about the absolute necessity of women’s women. We also need quotas — because
groups and women’s networks. Women one women alone in a decision-making
must come together and among them­ body is made invisible and not heard.
It is a wonderful experience for men
selves define their values and skills. In
doing so, they will gain self-esteem and and women to meet as equals, to discuss
become more assertive. Without this and exchange ideas. It is real dynamism.
process — the networking of informal Research tells us that mixed sex groups
and formal women’s groups — we cannot are much more effective, make much
achieve gender integration, or equality better decisions, and that decisions are
between the women and men. Because if implemented with much more ease. [J]
4

Joining Hands
in India
Ela Bhatt, executive director,
Self-employed Women's
Association (SEWA), India.
There were two things clear in my
mind when I started SEWA in 1972. One
was that in the Indian economy 90% of
employment generates from the un­
organized or informal sector and that
these people are outside any kind of
labor legislation or social security
scheme. I realized that unless the labor
of the informal sector is brought into the
mainstream ofthe labor movement, there
cannot be a real labor movement. The
other thing that concerned me was the
women s movement. Eighty percent of
women in India are rural, poor and
illiterate — yet economically active. 1
realized that it is these women who
should be playing a leading role in the
women's movement in India.
SEWA Cooperatives

SEWA is basically a trade union.
Today, we have a membership of 100,000
women and 61 cooperatives in five
Hindi-speaking states. One-third of
members are Muslim and one-third are
harijan. There are three categories of
members: home-based producers either
working on their own as artisans, or
working as piece-rate workers for a
contractor; vendors and hawkers; and
providers of services.
We also have five kinds of
cooperatives: a cooperative bank and
dairy, tree grower, craft and labor
cooperatives. Our strategy is for unions
and cooperatives to take joint action. It
would be suicidal for a union to take
action alone in India since workers in the
informal sector are not protected by labor
laws and there is so much surplus labor.
But combined with cooperatives,
particularly production cooperatives,
unions can have bargaining power and
can strengthen existing employment and
create new employment.
I have found that when women
organize on the basis of work — outside
their roles as mothers or wives — two
things happen. One, their own self-esteem
grows and for the first time they realize
JOICFP NEWS, May 1993

WID

Seeds of Change
Sandy Stephens, regional sociologist and women in
development officer, Asia and the Pacific, FAO
Economic status has a lot of potential for women to make
large influence on women’s money, hard money. But these activities
fertility. Ifwomen are literate are not being done.
and have access to income,
For an agricultural project to work,
fertility goes down quite we have to do a soil analysis and see
dramatically. Once women which crops will grow well in that area.
start earning money, their There has to be a scientific study and a
mind-set changes, they get feasibility study based on economics
new self-esteem and their done. Scientific and technological
priorities
change. They see innovations must be considered and
Most of the farmers in Asia are women.
that they can be somebody, resources must be mobilized. Child care
that they are workers, producers and their own important member of thefamily, centers are also very important. We
contributors to the economy of the that they can make decisions on their own found that in Vietnam when child care
country. Second, integration happens, behalf, and that they are not just a wife, centers were provided, women’s produc­
and for a while, the women forget about somebody else’s property, or their tivity went up by 60% because they did
differences in caste, religion and children s mother. This
not have to stop work all
language, because work is a common has a big impact on their
the time.
factor. I am not saying that the women fertility control.
There needs to be
are ready to marry off their daughters to
At FAO we emphasize
completely new thinking
men of another religion, but they are women’s access to income.
about women’s partici­
ready to eat, suffer and enjoy together We do not call programs
pation in agriculture.
because they have gone through that for women “income­
Women participating in
process of change. I am a great believer generating” programs, be­
agriculture are farmers,
in organizing women — there is no cause men’s programs are
not housewives or farm
shortcut or alternative.
never called that. They are
wives. In many countries
The poor in India need a package of called business develop­
women cannot get credit
support services including banking and ment, entrepreneurial
from banks, cannot be
Sandy Stephens
continued credit, healthcare, child care, development or manage­
members of agricultural
training of various kinds, housing and a ment training programs.
cooperatives and do not understand many
good communication system. We are
There are plenty of “cute” little technologies because they have not been
providing these services in SEWA. We income-generating projects for women exposed to them. Only 0.7% of the
see healthcare, child care, insurance and around. But the truth is that they usually agricultural extension workers in Asian
housing as work security because health do not make much income and end up countries are women. Men working as
is the first and foremost capital that the pushing women onto the sidelines.
extension workers are notorious for not
poor have and it needs to be strengthened.
I did some costing, for example, of a contacting women. They think of a
The major challenges for SEWA are sericulture project for women in Thailand farmer as a man and talk to him about
how to remain small and yet be big. The and found that the women were getting everything. Sometimes the woman even
only way to achieve this is to organize only 3 baht, about 15 U.S. cents, per day. sends them to the man because they
ourselves and build up the grassroots. They could earn much more if they grew a think that the husband is the farmer.
Only then will the women have a chance crop that they could sell in the market.
Lots of the work that women have to
to play a bigger role in society. Women
If the aim of a project is to make money, do, such as housework or collecting
in India and other developing countries and after all it is money that is going to dung in the field, is said to be “natural”
may be illiterate, but they are not ignorant. make women want to reduce their fertility, for women. But it is not natural — not
They have such a rich wealth of tradition then the economic viability of that project biological. Women only have to bear
and experience. They are also very has to be looked at and women have to be children and breast-feed. Most other
sensible and have
trained in business devel­ work can be shared by men. If women
thought about the solu­
opment, entrepreneurship are going to become more part of the
tions to their problems.
and management. Men economy, men have to be prepared to
But power is so distant
would never accept a become more of the household social
for such women that
sericulture project that unit. Men will not do it willingly, but
they feel at a loss. If the
gave them 3 baht a day — they can be forced to some extent.
decision-making power
they would laugh at it. But Fetching water, chopping firewood —
and resources are
these things are offered to there are lots of things that men can do
brought down as close
women as women in de­ that would not humiliate them among
as possible to the people,
velopment projects. It is their peers. And I think they will be
women can have a big
not development at all — more likely to do them if they see the
role to play — and they
it is anti-development.
women as economically active and
will play.
|j]
Ela Bhatt
In agriculture there is a contributing to society.
[T|

E

JOICFP NEWS, May 1993

5

Bangladesh

A New Beginning
One sewing machine can bring
economic independence to 20 women in
Bangladesh, a JOICFP mission was told
during a recent visit to the country. With
an independent income, women are not
only in a better position to take care of
their health and that oftheirfamilies, but
are also more likely to have more selfesteem and take a more active role within
the family and community.
Empowering women through the
creation of support networks is one of the
key goals of the ‘integrated Family
Development Program” (IP) being
implemented by the Family Planning
Association of Bangladesh (FPAB) in
cooperation with JOICFP. Part of the
regional, four-year, UNFPA-supported
“Sustainable Community-based Family
Planning/Maternal and Child Health
Project with Special Focus on Women,”
the IP is being implemented in two pilot
areas with target populations of 30,000
in each area.
The areas, Dhalia in Feni District,
and Ghorasal in Narsingdi District, are
both low-socioeconomic, rural areas with
high populations of young people. About
45% of the population of Dhalia and
39.4% of Ghorasal are under the age of
15. Accordingly, activities for adoles­
cents, particularly young women, have
been given high priority under the IP,
which is strengthening youth groups as a
means to motivate young people.
Integrating mass parasite control

uel(1£L

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activities with family plan­
ning (FP) service delivery and
maternal and child health
(MCH) care, the IP includes
w .3
a number of backup activities
such as IEC programs; edu­
cation and training on health,
sanitation, nutrition and
conservation of resources;
skill development training;
adult literacy; income­ Power in numbers for Bangladeshi women.
generating activities and
management skill training. While women eye to sustainability. Under the IP plan,
are the main target recipients for FP/MCH agreed upon on March 18, FPAB is
services, the IP is also aimed at motivating aiming to achieve program sustainability
them to take an active role in program through quality service provision,
promotion. A family development center effective demand creation for services
is to be established in each village under and institutional sustainability by
the IP and will function as a coordination fostering community ownership.
[T|
center for activities as well as a meeting
place for women to receive education,
training and to take part in income­
generating activities.
To ensure the success of the women in
development activities being promoted
The groundwork was laid for the
under the IP, efforts are being made to
forthcoming Tokyo Conference on African
secure male involvement in the activities.
Development during a preparatory
The IP aims to encourage positive behavior
meeting, held at the United Nations
change away from traditional practices
University (UNU) Headquarters in Tokyo
and foster cooperative efforts involving
from March 17 - 18. Attended by
both men and women.
representatives of 25 African countries,
A pioneering, grassroots organization,
12 donor countries, 12 international
the FPAB was established in 1953.
organizations and institutions as well
Working closely with other nongovern­
as observers, the meeting provided an
mental organizations involved in the field
opportunity for participants to exchange
views on the organization of themes
of FP, FPAB is promoting the IP with an
for the October conference and estab­
lish a drafting committee for a Tokyo
Declaration on African development.
The October conference is being
organized by the government of Japan in
collaboration with the UN and Global
Dr. S. K. Alok, Country Director, UNFPA, Bangladesh,
Coalition for Africa. A ministerial-level
spoke with JOICFP NEWS about women in Bangladesh on
meeting, the conference is expected to
March 18 in Dhaka. Below is an outline of his comments.
lead to the adoption of the Tokyo
We believe that without the empowerment of women
Declaration. The meeting is intended to
there can really be no family welfare at all. The education,
address the emerging trends in the
status and employment of women are the basic foundations |
evolution of African countries, focusing
on which the edifice of a nation would stand.
/
on the progress of democratization,
Female literacy and female employment are the keys to |
success in FP - to enable women to choose the number of
economic reforms, development strategies
including population and environmental
children they want and the time when they want to have them.
policies and institution building. Officials
This freedom of choosing the number and spacing of
of 46 African countries are expected to
S.K. Alok
children and the power to do so is the basic freedom from
attend the conference.
which all other freedoms flow.
Meanwhile, the March meeting focused
The status of women in Bangladesh or in the whole of the subcontinent is low. Deprived
on themes to be discussed in October:
of education and any means of independent income, they totally depend on fathers, husbands
political and economic reforms in Africa;
and later on sons. The custom of purdah confines them within the four walls of their
Asian experiences and African develop­
households. These are barriers which stand in the way to development of women and forthat
ment; economic development through the
matter in the way of development of the whole society. So, any attempts at increasing the
activities of the private sector; emergency
skills of the women, the literacy of women and the cash-earning capacity of women will go
relief and development; and regional
a long way in raising the status of women and, hence, will improve the quality of life of
cooperation and integration in Africa.
women and consequently lead to lasting family welfare.

' I

O'

i*'

African Development
High on Agenda

Better Quality of Life for Women

6

JOICFP NEWS, May 1993

Exchanges

Wheels for Outreach Team
A preventive healthcare team in
Michoachan State in Mexico will soon be
mobile thanks to the donation of a
reconditioned chest X-ray van from two
Japanese non-govern­
mental organizations.
Renovated and stocked
Y“
with equipment and items
such as microscopes,
contraceptive supplies
and IEC materials, the
van will be used by
personnel of the Family
Planning Foundation of
Mexico (MEXFAM) to
take preventive health­
care and education to people working in
factories in the urban areas as well as
rural people of the state.
One of the main uses of the X-ray
equipment in the van will be to provide
health checkups for tuberculosis which
is relatively widespread in Michoachan.
The team staffing the van will include a
medical doctor to enable the provision of
clinical contraceptives and family
planning (FP) consultations. In addition,

L

all services will be provided on a feecharged basis to promote the self-reliance
of MEXFAM’s FP activities.
The van, which was shipped from Japan
on April 9, is expected to
be put into service in
Michoachan State in mid­
May. Reconditioned and
donated by the Tochigi
Branch of the Tuberculosis
Prevention Association
and Tochigi Health Service
Association, the van was
formerly used by the two
NGOs in Tochigi Prefec­
ture in Japan. JOICFP has
applied for funds from the NGO Assistance
Fund of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
toward the cost of shipment.
Other medical equipment donated to
MEXFAM by Japanese NGOs and through
the Voluntary Deposit for International
Aid (VDIA) scheme of the Japanese
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunica­
tions is expected to boost self-reliance and
the quality of health services provided by
the organization in Mexico.
[j]

Investments in
Health Pay Off,
Says World Bank
Armeane Choksi, vice president, Human
Resources Development and Operations
Policy, World Bank, was the main speaker
at a seminar organized by the World Bank
and the Japan Society for International
Development in Tokyo on April 6. Below
are some highlights of his presentation.
There is something very special about public
investments in basic health, education,
nutrition and family planning. They
complement and interact with each other in a
manner which raises the economic return to
any one of them the more there is of another.
For example, educated women are more
likely to use available FP services, which in
itself can reduce the cost of providing services.
Investing in human resources is good
economics. It leads to higher income and
more economic growth — and to more
education and better health of this and the
next generation. It is not just the soft-hearted
who should be concerned with improving
health, education, FP, sanitation and other
programs. It is the hard-headed as well.
Cost-effective Healthcare

In health it costs a lot more to save a life
through hospital care and other curative
services than through private and community
services. Preventive services such as
cost benefits of solar-energy sources and immunizations, and community services
the advanced level of Japanese solar such as antimalarial spraying, are much
technology, participants expressed regret more cost-effective in saving lives. But
where does most public money for health
that the Japanese government is not taking
go? In developing countries in the early
a more active stance in promoting solar 1980s, between 70-85% went to curative
energy projects in developing countries services — and thus much less to those
through its bilateral assistance programs. services that are both more cost-effective and
The reluctance of the Japanese more likely to reach the poor.
World Bank lending for human
government contrasts markedly with the
active promotion of solar energy sources development programs increased from an
through European and U.S. official average of US$1.1 billion per year in (fiscal
development assistance (ODA) programs. years) 1987-89 to US$3 billion in 1990-92.
The biggest producer of solar panels in For the same years, the number of projects
increased from 26 to 45. Current investment
the world and the country with the most
lending for human resource development has
advanced solar energy technology, Japan quintupled since the early 1980s — from 5%
is often the source of equipment for of total Bank lending for fiscal 1981-83 to
these projects being promoted by other 14% in fiscal 1990-1992.
Within three years after approval of lend­
countries.
While other countries have not been ing specifically for health programs, the Bank
deterred by past mistakes, Japan has been moved quickly to become the largest lender
hesitant to promote solar energy projects for developing country health projects. Health
out of fear that it will repeat the 1983 is the fastest growing area of Bank lending—
Bank lending for health has tripled since
failure of its solar energy project in
fiscal 1986, and in fiscal 1991, lending
Pakistan. Noting the highly advanced level
amounted to more than US$ 1.5 billion. Bank
of modern solar energy technology and funding for population, health and nutrition is
the prominence of Japan in this field, the projected to rise to US$2.5 billion in fiscal
participants called for Japanese ODA to be 1995. One half of all population, health and
further committed to solar energy pro­ nutrition projects since 1980 were approved
grams in developing countries.
|jx] during the last three years.

Let the Sun Shine In
The use of solar energy as an
appropriate technology for developing
countries was the theme of the regular
meeting of the Council on Population
Education, held at JOICFP on March
24. Noting the non-polluting and low-

Photo courtesy of Malnichi Shimbun

Fujikazu Horigome, managing director,
Social Welfare Foundation, Mainichi
Shimbun (left), hands over a donation to
Yasuo Kon, deputy executive director,
JOICFP, on March 22 to support activi­
ties of the Integrated Project (IP). The
third such contribution received from
the foundation, the grant of ¥500,000
(US$4,100 at an exchange rate of ¥122
to US$1) will go toward shipment costs
for reconditioned bicycles sent to IP
areas in developing countries.
JOICFP NEWS, May 1993

7

Voice of Voices
By Chojiro Kunii

South-to-South Cooperation
In early February this year, my old
friend Dr. Haryono Suyono visited
JOICFP. Dr. Haryono has been working
tirelessly under President Soeharto to
promote FP in Indonesia for over 20
years and recently became the state
minister for population in charge of
BKKBN.
The purpose of his visit was to discuss
future projects under which the experi­
ences and know-how of Indonesia’s FP
program will be transferred to neigh­
boring countries. The projects are part of
the South-to-South cooperation scheme
endorsed by Japanese Prime Minister
Kiichi Miyazawa in January.
Integrated Project
The Integrated Project (IP) of
JOICFP, which was implemented in
Sumatra with the cooperation of the
Indonesian government 15 years ago,
achieved great success within just a few
years with the active participation of the
community people. The project, which
began with parasite control activities
followed by FP and maternal and child
healthcare activities, eventually led to
community development.
This regional strategy was also
supported by several branches of the
Japan Association of Health Service and
the Hoken Kaikan Group. The project is
still being promoted smoothly under the
IP concept in Jakarta where mass para­
site control activities are conducted on
school children on a fee-charging basis.
The activities have the full backing of
the education authorities who requested
an expansion of the project.

Government Support
Indonesia’s South-to-South cooper­
ation scheme is being promoted under an
official agreement signed between the
Indonesian and Japanese governments.
To ensure the success of the projects,
JOICFP will provide full cooperation
to multilateral and bilateral agencies.
The IP in Indonesia is now being
promoted under the guidance of Dr.
Firman Lubis of Yayasan Kusuma Buana
and has much to offer other Asian
countries in the way of applicable
experiences. It is my hope that the suc­
cess of the IP can be replicated in other
countries through the exchange of
experiences.
[Y]

8

ANNOUNCEMENT
International Seminar on Family Planning for Senior Officers
The government of Japan will conduct an international seminar on family planning
(FP) in Japan as part of its technical cooperation program for developing countries
for fiscal 1993 (April 1,1993 - March 31,1994). The seminar will focus on effective
administration of FP and maternal and child health (MCH) programs at the central
and local levels by calling on Japan’s experience in this field, and will encourage
mutual sharing of relevant experiences and knowledge.
Date:
August 17 - September 12, 1993
Participants: 1 Ssenior FP officersto be selected from the countries of Bangladesh,
Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malawi,
Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines,
Senegal, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Uganda and Vietnam
Deadline for applications to the Embassy of Japan: June 30, 1993
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.

DIARY
Ten representatives of 10 countries attended
the Seminar on Parasite Control Administration
for Senior Officers on Feb. 1 - 22. The seminar
was supported by the Japan Cooperation
Agency (JICA) and organized by Japan
Association of Parasite Control in cooperation
with JOICFP.

*

*

JOICT'P ‘Women's 'J/eattfi andStatus Series

______ A New Animated Film______

Twin Lotus
13 min., Color/English, Chinese

i
I

*

Daniel E. Pellegrom, president, and Dr. Tiirkiz
Gokgol, regional vice president, Asia and Near
East, Pathfinder International, visited JOICFP
on Feb. 25 to exchange information.
*
*
*
Dr. Hirofumi Ando, director, Information and
External Relations Division, UNFPA, visited
JOICFP to exchange information while in Japan
from Feb. 28 - Mar. 1.
*
*
*
Three students from the School of Medicine,
Chiang Mai University, Thailand, visited
JOICFP to attend a one-day seminar on FP
activities in Japan on Mar. 3.
*
*
*
Dr. Kotsaythoune Phimmasone, chief of
planning, National MCH Institute, Laos, visited
JOICFP on Mar. 3 to exchange information.
*
*
*
Dr. Muneo Yokogawa, professor emeritus,
ChibaUniversity,andTakaaki Hara, director,
Research and Study Dept., JAPC, were in India
from Mar. 7 -17 to provide technical assistance
for the UNFPA and UNICEF-supported project
implemented by Dooars Branch of the Indian
Tea Association.
*
*
*
JOICFP Program Officer Ryoichi Suzuki was
in Bangladesh from Mar. 11 - 20 to finalize the
proposal for the “Sustainable Community-based
FP/MCH Project with Special Focus on
Women” implemented by the Family Planning
Association of Bangladesh.
*
*
*
A six-member study team from China headed
by Dr. Xie Zhimin, director, Schistosomiasis
and Endemic Diseases Control Office of Jiangxi
Province, attended a one-day seminar on the
PC movement in Japan at JOICFP on Mar. 24
while in Japan from Mar. 20 - April 2.

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 JapanChina joint production that uses
an animation technique based on a traditional
paper-cutting method.
Distributed by

Sakura Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
Yoyogi Center Bldg.. 57-1 Yoyogi l-chome
Shibuyo-ku, Tokyo 151, Japan
Tel: 81-3-332CX>31 l/Fox: 81-3-3320-7666
Telex: J34799 ITCINBTH

16mm-VTR (Beta, yHS/NTScTPAL, SECAM)

5,555,555,555
The world’s population hit 5,555,555,555
people at 3:13:53 GMT on April 15,
according to the Population Clock II.

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
Telex: 2324584 JOICFP J
Cable Address: JOICFP Tokyo
Facsimile: 81-3-3235-7090

JOICFPNEWS, May 1993

Position: 3199 (3 views)