NO. 230 AUGUST 1993.pdf
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No. 230 August 1993
ISSN 0911-0755
JOICFFNEWS
A Decade of Dramatic Change
China celebrates 10 years of Integrated Project activities
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SFPC Minister Peng Peiyun (right) awards JOICFP Chairman Chojiro Kunii.
“Activities of the Integrated Project
(IP) advocated by JOICFP Chairman
Chojiro Kunii werefirst implemented in
China in 1984. In project areas, the
infant mortality rate (IMP) has greatly
decreased, the level of women s health
has been raised, the awareness of
voluntary family planning (FP) among
the people has increased and environ
mental sanitation has improved. By
creating such visible effects, the project
has won the support of the people,” said
Peng Peiyun, minister, State Family
Planning Commission ofChina (SFPC).
The minister made her remarks at a
ceremony held on June 12 in Beijing to
commemorate the 10th anniversary of
the Integrated Family Planning, Maternal
and Child Health and Parasite Control
Project, which was initiated in China
with an agreement signed in June 1983.
Hosted by the SFPC, China Family
Planning Association (CFPA) and the
National Steering Committee of the IP,
the event was attended by a JOICFP
mission including Chairman Kunii who
joined the ceremony at the invitation of
the minister. To express her gratitude to
the JOICFP chairman for his significant
contribution to the promotion of the IP in
China, the minister presented Kunii with
a prestigious Minister’s Award. Kunii
was the first person to receive the Minister’s
Award, according to an article in the
People’s Daily, China’s largest newspaper.
The ceremony was attended by some
150 people including officials of the SFPC,
CFPA, Ministry of Public Health, All
China Women’s Federation and the 16 1Pimplementing provinces. Representatives
of IPPF and the Japanese Embassy in
China also joined the event.
Practical Healthcare Approach
Launched on a pilot basis in China in
1984, the IP quickly won the acceptance of
the community people and approval of
authorities as apractical approach to raising
the level of health and promoting the
acceptance family planning (FP) on a
voluntary basis. The project, which uses
parasite control (PC) as a means to stimulate
community interest in health issues and
integrates it with other health- and welfarerelated activities, has been adapted to suit
local needs of community people who have
contributed from their own pockets in many
areas to assist its expansion. In project
areas, community people have combined
forces with local authorities to establish
health clinics and construct sanitary latrines
and safe water supplies.
Started in two project areas of two
provinces in 1984 with a target population
of 270,000, the project entered its fourth
phase at the beginning of this year and
has been expanded to cover a target
population of 1.2 million in 16 provinces
out of the 30 provinces of mainland China.
However, as the project has won the
interest of people living in areas
neighboring IP sites, it has been expand
ed without external assistance to meet
the demands of these people for a better
way of life. As aresult, the actual number
of people covered by the IP is estimated
to be as high as 2.1 million. Meanwhile,
the effectiveness of the IP has also won
supporters among the authorities in
charge of FP programs which have
incorporated the integrated approach of
the project into their programs. The most
prominent supporters of the IP approach
have been the FPCs and FPAs which
have adopted many of the aspects of the
project into their FP programs.
In a speech to the guests, Peng Yu,
chair, National Steering Committee, and
vice minister, SFPC, provided back
ground on the development of the IP in
China. “In 10 years, the coverage of the
IP has expanded from the initial two
pilot areas in two provinces to cover 18
project areas in 16 provinces,” she said.
“The project’s initial orientation of
integrating health activities with FP
activities has also developed over the
years to include components such as
economic and social development
(From left) Kunii is congratulated by
Wu Jieping and Wang Wei.
1
China
activities, illiteracy campaigns and
activities to improve women’s status and
maternal and child health.” Peng said
that as a result of this approach, FP has
been more readily acceptable to people.
A Grassroots Revolution
A JOICFP mission lead by Chairman
Chojiro Kunii gained firsthand insights
into the positive changes that the Integrated
Project Self-reliance
Project (IP) has helped bring to the lives of
Other benefits noted by the vice community people during a field visit to
minister were the high level of commu Taicang City, Suzhou Municipality,
nity participation in project activities, Jiangsu Province, from June 14 -16. The
the warm relations between community city was the site ofthefirstproject in China
people and FP volunteers trained under 10 years ago and the IP is now in its
the IP and the positive effects that the fourth phase in Taicang.
To mark 10 years of IP promotion in
implementation of a fee-charging system
has had on the community. “By having Taicang, a ceremony was held in the city
to pay for health and other services, people
have become aware of the benefits and
more concerned about improving service
quality,” she said. “The more benefits
the project brings them, the more willing
they are to participate in activities and
pay for services, thereby promoting the
self-reliance of the project.”
In a speech to the guests. Dr. Wu
Jieping, vice chairman, Standing
Committee of the National People’s
Congress, and acting chairman,
ESEAOR-IPPF, offered his con
gratulations to Kunii for the Minister’s
Award on behalf of IPPF. Chang
S’*
Chongxuan, standing vice president,
CFPA, and Wang Wei, advisor, CFPA
and former minister, SFPC, also offered
their congratulations. Other key speakers
included Dr. Huang Baoshan, director,
JOICFP Chairman Chojiro Kunii (left)
Department of International Relations,
opens the new training center with Peng Yu,
SFPC, who gave a presentation on the
chair, National Steering Committee, and
10-year implementation of the IP in
vice minister, SFPC. One of the highlights
China. Representatives from each project
of the JOICFP mission’s field visit to
Taicang City was the launch of a new
area including government officials,
Integrated ProjectTraining Center on June
village leaders, village doctors and village
12. Officially opened by JOICFP Chairman
people also spoke at the event.
Chojiro Kunii, the center is being used as a
basefor training IP personnelfrom all over
Sharing Experiences
China. The center is located on the premises
ofthe Taicang FP Commission’s FP Service
Addressing the minister, Kunii
Center. According to plans, the center's
conveyed his appreciation for the award,
functions will be expanded in the future to
but commented that the success of the IP
include the production ofIEC materials. It
in China was really due to the efforts of
will also serve as a base for the promotion
of preventive health services on a mass
the people promoting the project at the
examination basis. The planned outreach
grassroots. Noting the vast experiences
services will include maternal and child
accumulated in China, Kunii expressed
health services, nutrition guidance,parasite
his desire that the IP in China could serve
control,
services for the aged and family
as a model for other countries in the Asia,
health services. Topromote the self-reliance
Africa and Latin America to follow.
of the center, the commission is planning to
After leaving Beijing, Kunii visited
chargefeesfor these services. The possibility
Taicang City and Shanghai Municipality.
of further expanding the functions of the
While in Shanghai, Kunii met with Xie
center on a national level was raised during
Lijuan, vice mayor of Shanghai, who
Kunii’s discussions with central-level
representatives of the SFPC and CFPA.
praised the positive impact that the IP has
The officials, including SFPC Minister Peng
had at the grassroots. The vice mayor
Peiyun, expressed agreement with the
also expressed a desire to implement the
concept of expanding the center’s role.
IP in Shanghai in the future.
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Be
gj r b
2
on June 15. Kunii, who joined the event
with the JOICFP mission, was presented
with a special award by the city’s mayor
for his contribution to the promotion of
the IP. Awards for contributions to the IP
were given to a total of 33 groups and 46
individuals during the ceremony, which
was attended by some 100 people.
Implemented in 1984, the IP in
Taicang County initially covered a target
population of 120,000 people in seven
townships. Today, the project, which is
promoted on a self-reliance basis with
the support of community people and
local authorities, has spread to all 24
townships in the county to cover a
population of 450,000. As the scope of
the project has expanded, so have the
benefits that it has brought to community
people. The I MR has dropped from a
high of 32 per 1,000 live births in 1983
to 13 in 1992. Meanwhile, roundworm
infection has dropped from 62% in 1984
to 16% in 1992.
Improvements in Health
Kunii had an opportunity to see some
of the positive changes that have occurred
in the city with development over the
past decade and gain insights into the
project’s contribution to these changes
during a visit to the house of a farming
family in Jinxing village. In talks with
the family and community people from
the village, the chairman learned first
hand about the improvements that have
been made in terms of health and
environmental sanitation in the village.
The JOICFP mission also spoke with the
leader of the village who explained how
the project had helped her to gain the
trust of the community people when she
was working as a barefoot doctor.
A Taicang mother and child.
JOICFP NEWS, August 1993
Ethiopia
Uniting
n for
Better
agents (CHAs)
have not only
been able to
provide villagers
with
muchneeded medical
supplies, but are
also earning a
small profit to
the costs of
i.
Sustained healthcare services cover
their services.
become a reality in
In each of the
Integrated Project areas
three villages, the
health posts are
It takes a very unique healthcare run by three staff
approach to reach people living in members: a CHA,
The IP field supervisor (front) joins members of the local IP
villages in Woliso District, 116km from who counsels steering committee in front of Denbeli Keta’s health post.
Ethiopia s capital of Addis Ababa. clients and sells
Located in Region 4, where 30 million of drugs; traditional birth attendant (TBA), the project has brought benefits, the
the country’s 50 million people live, who delivers babies and supplies people have been more willing to listen
Woliso is like most other districts in contraceptives; and health animator, who to health messages including FP. As a
Ethiopia and offers inhabitants very little provides health education. Since each of result, the contraceptive prevalence rate
in the way of healthcare services at the these personnel are drawn from their own has increased from zero to 3% in 20
village level. Faced with the challenge village, they are better placed than out months.
Recognizing the strengths of the IP,
ofrebuilding a nation recently disrupted siders to win the confidence of villagers
by civil unrest, the government is only and smoothly promote the project.
the Ministry of Health organized a
able to extend its healthcare system to
workshop for MCH coordinators focus
Limited Resources
the district level, leaving the 30,000 or
ing on community-based MCH/FP
so villages nationwide with little in the
promotion from May 18-23. The meeting
With limited resources at the village was attended by 30 participants from six
way of services to offer inhabitants.
Overall, only 47% of the population of level, community mobilization is essential regions who made a field visit to IP
Ethiopia has access to health services to the success of a local healthcare system villages where they were introduced to
in Ethiopia. The IP has been able to win the the village health service system set up
including family planning (FP).
Under the Integrated Project (IP), participation of the people by answering under the project. Among the major IP
however, an innovative system for grassroots needs for better health and living features highlighted for the participants
establishing local health posts, paying conditions. To enhance project promotion, were the use of parasite control as an
health personnel and stimulating local volunteers work to mobilize residents effective entry point to stimulate
community people tojoin self-help health through the village network of neighbor community participation and the estab
and development activities has begun to hood groups comprising 10-15 households. lishment of mechanisms such as the
take root in the villages of Ejersa Koji, By bringing villagers together under a revolving fund system to sustain
Denbeli Keta and Obi Oseli. In each of shared cause, the IP has been able to build healthcare services at the grassroots.
these villages, community people have community spirit which has been utilized
The revolving fund system got a
joined hands to set up healthcare facilities, to encourage villagers to join IP activities. boost from a recent JOICFP mission
Another key to the success of the IP has to Ethiopia, which brought US$500
while a revolving fund system has been
established for the purchase of essential been the establishment of a unique tier donated by the Kasukawa village in
drugs. By selling these drugs to villagers system of local steering committees that Japan’s Gunma Prefecture. The money
at a nominal cost, the community health reaches right down to the village level will be used to set up revolving funds in
where it comprises village administrators three more villages in Woliso.
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and remains attuned to the needs of
villagers. With the support of these
leaders, PHC, FP, maternal and child
Track
health (MCH) care and environmental
sanitation promotion has been enhanced.
Officials of Ethiopia’s Ministry of External
Prior to the initiation of the IP in the
three villages in Woliso District, the Economic Cooperation and Ministry of
community people had virtually no access Health, UNFPA and JOICFP agreed to extend
to primary health care (PHC) services as the first phase of the IP in Ethiopia to the end
of 1993 at a Tripartite Review Meeting, held
there were only one health center and one in Addis Ababa on June 8. The meeting was
health station to serve the needs of the attended by MCH/FP advisors of UNFPA’s
150,000 people in the district’s 86 villages. country support team based in Ethiopia who
However, under the IP, health posts have joined discussions on the progress and future
been set up in the three villages to bring activities of the project. One of the main
Denbeli Keta’s CHA displays the about an improvement in the levels of items discussed at the meeting was the
[5]
health and environmental sanitation. As possibility of expanding the project.
village’s essential drug supply.
a?
Health
Project on
s1
JOICFP NEWS, Augusl 1993
3
INFRA
of migrants today are
unskilled. There is also
a growing tendency for
people on the move to
enter other countries
illegally and for
migrants to stay
permanently once they
UNFPA report estimates
move.
international migrants at 100
>
Although women
million worldwide
comprise almost half of
all those who migrate,
On a scale unknown in history,people
they often make little
around the world are migrating in search
improvements in their
>
of a better life, according to the “The
relative status by
State of World Population 1993,”
moving.
Indeed,
published by UNFPA. The report, which
women’s downward
estimates 100 million international
mobility as migrants
migrants worldwide, states that the
generally far exceeds
proportion ofpeople living outside their
that of men. Yet, while
country of birth approaches 2% of the
women who migrate
world’spopulation. To ease the pressures
earn less than men, they
that drive migrants into big cities and
tend to send money back
across international boundaries, UNFPA
to their home country
calls for new development strategies
more frequently than
*
aimed at sustainable job growth and
their male counterparts.
fulfilling human aspirations by provid Up to 17 million of the world’s migrants are refugees.
Overwhelmingly,
ing such services as education, health
the biggest movement
care and family planning (FP). The million of the world’s migrants are refugees of people is from the countryside to the
report states that the provision of health and another 20 million have fled violence, city, usually without crossing any national
and FP services, especially for women drought and environmental destruction.
borders. Much of this movement is due
and the rural poor, promote economic
Of those international migrants in 1991 to the widening wage differences in the
development and therefore help reduce who were not refugees, 35 million were in two areas and to the fact that social
the need for migration.
sub-Saharan Africa, with 13-15 million services are more likely to be found in
Released on July 6 ahead of World each in western Europe and North America. large cities. In addition, lack of land
Population Day on July 11, this year s A further 15 million were in Asia and tenure in agricultural zones means that
report is subtitled, “The Individual and the Middle East, where a few countries once the soil is exhausted, there is no
the World: Population, Migration and have particularly heavy migrant concen reason for farmers to stay. Yet as people
Development in the 1990s,” and takes trations.
move to the city in increasing numbers,
migration as its theme. Below are some
Countries from which migrants move urban social services are put under
of the highlights of the report.
may gain financial returns from those who increasing strain. Consequently, quality
While the majority of migrants leave leave, but they also face drawbacks. Annual of life for migrants in cities is going
their homes in search of a better way of remittances from international migrants to down.
life, many are forced to move. Up to 17 their families at home amount to US$66
Strategy for a Better Life
billion, second in
value to the global
Since migration is a strategy to better
economy only to oil
World Population Growth:
and larger than all meet individual and household needs,
Annual Growth Rates and Increments
official development safeguard security and meet aspirations
130
3.5
assistance from for a better life, development must
120
3.7
AhcnhitP I nr rnacp
110
3.1
governments. provide attractive alternatives to moving.
•High
100
2.9
■ Medium
However, countries Investments in improving the status of
90
2.7
that lose migrants women and such services as education
80
2.5
also lose members of and health including FP should be given
70
u 2.3
60 f
their work force.
priority since they help contribute to
I50 i
S 1,91
The
face
of
lower fertility, economic growth and
40
1.7
_
migration has also social balance.
30
1.5
Annual Growth Rate
In the long-term, the only effective
changed over the
20
1.3
o Hloh
10
D Medium
years. Unlike the means to reduce migration pressure are
0
0.9
O Low
circular and tem to slow population growth; stimulate
___
-10
0.7
porary
migration of economic growth and job creation at
■20
0.5
1980
1990
2000
2010_______ 2020
1950
1960
1970
the 1960s that was home; and to promote the development
YEAR
dominated by skilled of the individual and the family as the
Source-United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects 1990 (United Nations. New York 1991).
workers, the majority basic economic and social unit.
[J]
A World on
the Move
f: • -*•
4
JOICFPNEWS, August 1993
n
Vietnam
New Start for Women
Workshop assesses achievements and problems of IP
Pham Thi Thu has raised her standard
of living considerably thanks to hard
work and some help in theform ofa loan
which she is ready to pay back with
interest. A 40-year-old mother of three
from the Phong Binh Commune ofPhong
Dien District in Vietnam’s Thua-thien
Hue Province, Pham was lent US$100
through a revolving fund scheme set up
under the Integrated Project (IP) and
given training which she applied to pig
raising. By the end of July, she had
already covered the costs of buying the
original breeding pigs, building her pig
sty and supplying pig feed and had
tripled the original funds and built a
new sanitary latrine for her family.
An IUD user, Thu was selected along
with four other women in the village as a
loan recipient. To be chosen for the
loans, the women’s family had to meet
the criteria of being among the poorest in
the commune, being receptive to new
technology and being a trustworthy family.
Since the loan provision a year ago, a lot
has changed for Thu and her family and as
a result of her business success she is
willing to share her experiences to assist
her neighbors.
Thu’s experiences represent one of the
success stories of the IP in Vietnam.
Launched on a pilot basis in 1988, the
project was expanded in 1991 to cover 70
communes in seven districts of four
provinces. To assess the progress of the
project, the Final Evaluation Workshop of
the first phase of the IP was held in Hue
City from June 8-11. Attended by IP
personnel, government officials, members
of the National Steering Committee (NSC)
and representatives of UNFPA, UNICEF
and JOICFP, the workshop highlighted
achievements and problems relating to the
project.
Among the achievements noted was
the positive impact that steering commit
Meeting New Challenges
Linda Demers, UNFPA country director, countries with the same level of GNP.
Vietnam, recentlyprovidedJOlCFP NEWS Education and health are given high priority
with insights into the population situation by the government and this translates into
in Vietnam. Below is an outline of her high literacy rates and relatively low infant
comments.
and child mortality. Fertility has been
Vietnam has a long commitment to declining over the last 30 years, but the 1988
population issues. This year is a particularly Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)
decisive one in the
indicates that wanted
population field: the party
fertility is lower than
adopted a resolution on
current fertility rates. This
population; a strategy for
indicates an important
population until the year
unmet demand that needs
2000 was approved
to be addressed.
recently by the prime
The population program
minister; the government
faces many challenges.
budget for population
The government cannot
was
significantly
subsidize the health and
increased; the National
education system as it used
Committee for Popu
to in the past. Decreasing
lation and Family
use of health facilities is
Linda Demers
Planning (NCPFP) is
one of the consequences
reviewing its mandate
of this situation. In
and responsibilities and a new decree on addition, the government is committed to
this will be issued shortly.
improving the quality of the maternal and
Since 1977, UNFPA has been working in child health (MCH)/FP services, and to the
Vietnam to assist the country in achieving cafeteria approach. Currently, the Vietnam
its goals in the population field. For about ese have to rely on IUDs and menstrual
15 years, UNFPA has been the sole donor in regulation to control their fertility. The
population in Vietnam. Now, more donors implementation of improved MCH/FP
are coming in. This is an encouraging trend, services for women, with a wider range of
but more donors and support are needed.
contraceptives, should be decisive in
With regard to many social indicators, increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate
Vietnam compares well to some other and in improving women’s health.
JOICFP NEWS, August 1993
Pham Thi Thu with her daughter.
tees and volunteer networks have had in
IP communes. However, participants
pointed out the difficulty of providing
the women volunteers with support to
sustain the network. It was agreed that
further efforts, such as the use of donated
sewing machines, need to be made to
generate income to support the volunteers.
While reviewing the satisfactory
results of FP, MCH and environmental
sanitation activities, the participants also
commented that problems still remained,
particularly with regard to the supply of
a wider range of contraceptive methods
and the training for contraceptive
suppliers. Recommending efforts to
ensure the provision of an improved
contraceptive mix, especially the socalled female methods to enable women
to control their fertility, the participants
also urged that a simpler monitoring
system be established.
UNICEF Support
During discussions, the UNICEF
representative expressed strong support
of the project. Comparing environmental
sanitation in IP areas with other areas
covered by UNICEF projects, the official
noted that people in IP areas were more
motivated and construction of latrines
and wells had been more rapid under the
IP. He added that UNICEF was willing
to continue the project in any new areas
in collaboration with JOICFP. The
UNFPA representative also had positive
comments about the project and noted
the strong commitment of the commu
nity people in IP areas. After the work
shop, the representatives of UNFPA,
UNICEF, the government and JOICFP
agreed to organize a mission to formulate
the second phase of the project.
[T]
5
The Philippines
Targeting Urgent Unmet FP Needs
New regional project focuses on raising status of women and meeting FP demands
A UNFPA program review and
strategy development (PRSD) mission
that visited the Philippinesfrom April 25
- May 21 highlighted the urgency of
expanding the availability of quality
family planning (FP) to meet
considerable unmet needs. Outlining
health program outlets, FP training,
monitoring and supervision, operational
integration and contraceptive diversity
as areas requiring action, the mission
also noted the need for continuous
upgrading of Department of Health
(DOH) institutional capabilities at the
central level and a building ofcapacities
at the regional and lower levels.
Constraints and Achievements
The purpose of the mission was to
develop a coherent framework for the
national population program within the
context of the government’s development
objectives. With the cooperation of the
government, the UNFPA mission
reviewed constraints and achievements
of the current population activities and
prospects for future action.
Drawing attention to the urgent need
to raise the status of women and their
participation in
main stream
development, the
mission urged
that gender and
population
concerns
be
considered in the
entire develop
ment framework.
The mission also
made recom
mendations on
ways to improve
the effectiveness
of IECM acti
vities and support
wider participa
tion of non-gov- A young Philippine mother and her child.
ern m e n taI
Province were recently selected as pilot
organizations (NGOs).
Many of the points raised by the mis project sites and cover populations of
sion were especially relevant to the Sus 56,376 and 25,387, respectively.
Baseline surveys are currently being
tainable Community-based FP/MCH
Project with Special Focus on Women. undertaken by the University of Philip
Still in its initial stages, the project high pines Population Institute. Supported by
lights women’s reproductive health issues UNFPA in collaboration with JOICFP,
and unmet needs in FP services and edu the project is being implemented by the
cation as major concerns. The municipa Local Government Unit of Batangas with
[J]
lities of Balayan and Malvar in Batangas the guidance of the DOH.
it
population activities in areas such as
legislation, development planning,
education and agriculture. Without
POPCOM exercising the coordinating
by much discussion in the media. Although role, there is a tendency for the different
there is still some resistance to the program, sectors to take inconsistent approaches to
most of the discussion is favorable, probably the problem.
Overall, the next two to three years will
because the Department of Health (DOH) has
provide an excellent
made considerable effort to
window of opportunity
include natural FP inform
for the population
ation and services as part of
program. There will be
its program. At the same
a chance to recover some
time, studies have shown
of the ground that was
that most members of the
lost by the FP program
new Congress and of the
during the 1980s, while
general population are in
at the same time making
favor of a stronger FP
progress in dealing with
program. It is now up to the
other issues which are
DOH, assisted by the non
critical to the long-term
governmental organi
success of the program,
zations (NGOs), to meet the
such as the status of
expectations.
women, the relationship
The Commission on
George Walmsley
of population growth to
Population (POPCOM)
which is responsible for population policy, environmental deterioration and the
monitoring and coordination, has been identification of population-related factors
revitalized, with a new executive director to which must be considered in the
take over in early July. POPCOM will have the government’s poverty alleviation
responsibility for guiding and strengthening program.
Window of Opportunity
Philippine UNFPA Country Director
George Walmsley recently provided
JOICFP NEWS with insights into the
population situation in the Philippines. His
comments appear below.
Current prospects for expanding and
strengthening the Philippine population
program, particularly the family planning
(FP) program are very good. The new
administration of President Fidel V. Ramos,
which took over on June 30, 1992, has
indicated strong support for the program.
The Medium-term Philippine Development
Plan, presently being debated in Congress,
clearly establishes the need to integrate
population concerns in all aspects of
development planning, at the policy,
resource allocation and program
implementation levels. On the FP side,
President Ramos appointed as the new
secretary of health, Dr. Juan Flavier, who is
known as a strong and effective supporter
of the FP program.
During the past 12 months, the FP
program has been more active, accompanied
6
JOICFP NEWS, August 1993
New Film
A Tale of
Two
Women
and began a move
ment among the
women of the
community.
Nana Maria is
a traditional birth
attendant, faith
healer and herba
list who practices
her skills within
New JOICFP film documents her indigenous
community. Maria
a women's movement in an
Teresa,
a younger
indigenous community in
laboratory tech
Guatemala
nician working to
promote integrated
During Guatemala’s civil war healthcare at the
between the 1960s and 1980s, it is grassroots, is a
estimated that almost 150,000 people non-indigenous
were killed, 60,000 women were widow staff member of Nana Maria (left) shares a moment with Maria Teresa .
ed and 120,000 children were made JOICFP’s Inte
orphans. It was a long, painful war that grated Project (IP). The two were brought Atitlan, noted as one of the most beautiful
did much to reinforce the distrust and together after the younger Maria suc lakes in the world, and the ancient Mayan
fear that the indigenous people have cessfully treated Nana Maria’s daughter city of Tikal, the film brings the bold
always felt toward people from outside for parasites. As a friendship developed, designs worn by the indigenous people to
their communities. This suspicion has so did trust and a mutual respect for each life in vivid colors. A soundtrack inspired
not helped with efforts by outsiders to other’s culture. Maria Teresa made efforts by Mayan folk songs was also developed
raise the standard of living in these to communicate and listen to the indigenous by a Japanese composer to complement
communities and today, indigenous people, while Nana Maria began to learn to this touching documentary.
people live in severe conditions with poor safer methods of child delivery.
Maria is the result of a joint effort by
a Japanese-Guatemalan team and was
environmental sanitation and water
made in cooperation with the Guatemalan
Women’s Movement
supplies and without the benefit of mod
government, the Family Planning
ern healthcare services. The infant
Maria provides insights into how the Association of Guatemala (APROFAM),
mortality ratefor this group is estimated
at around 140 per 1,000 live births - the relationship between these two special other related international organizations
worst level in Latin America and about women contributed to improving the and the Japanese Embassy in Guatemala.
status of women and raising the level of Available as a 16mm film and as a video,
30 times the figure for Japan.
Maria (Las Dos Marias), a new health in the community. Utilizing local Maria is being distributed by Sakura
JOICFP film, documents the efforts of mothers’ clubs to bring women together, Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
In a message to JOICFP, UNFPA
two women who contributed to positive the two healthcare workers fostered
income-generating
and
skill
improve
Executive
Director Nafis Sadik praised
changes in an indigenous community
living near Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan. ment activities which developed into a Maria as an excellent and timely
Brought together by a desire to improve movement among the community women. documentary. “It documents the
Created in the International Year of the successful efforts made in one village to
the quality of life, the women worked to
break down the baniers that divided the World’s Indigenous People, the film is mobilize community women to seek self[J]
indigenous and non-indigenous peoples primarily aimed for use in Japan to create reliance in healthcare,” she said.
awareness of indigenous people and
JOICFP DOCUMENTARY SERIES
women’s issues, and to gain support
for international cooperation
NEW DOCUMENTARY FILM
activities. Maria is the first
Guatemalan film produced with the
33 min., color/English, Spanish, Japanese
sponsorship of the Hoken Kaikan
Foundation and introduces the
activities of JOICFP’s IP. Maria
premiered to an audience of 250 in
Tokyo on July 15 at a special
symposium to mark World
Population Day and will be shown
in Guatemala City on September 7
Distributed by
and in San Lucas Toliman on
Sakura Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
September 8 after the Spanish
Yoyogi Center Bldg., 57-1 Yoyogi 1-chome, Shibuya-ku,
version is completed. An English
Tokyo 151, Japan Tel:81-3-3320-6311 /Fax:81-3-3320-7666
Telex: J34799 ITCINBTH / Cable: ‘SAKURAMOVIES TOKYO"
version of the film is also available.
| 16mm/VTR (Beta, VHS/NTSC, PAL, SECAM) |
Nana Maria with members of her family.
Featuring scenery from Lake
Maria
•SB® •
JOICFP NEWS, August 1993
7
Voice of Voices
By Chojiro Kunii
Survival vs. Human Rights
Every country can be characterized by its
unique schools of thought, philosophies and
history. The problem of population, for ex
ample, is approached as a human rights issue
in North America and in some European
countries. To many people from these
countries the “one-child family policy” of
China is regarded as a violation of human
rights. However, China has obviously gone
to great lengths to implement this policy and
surely there is no other country that has tried
as hard to solve its population problem and
ensure the survival of its people. Having seen
the harsh reality of the population problem in
China, I cannot help but feel that the present
talk about human rights sometimes falls into
the realm of an academic exercise.
In Japan, the population problem has sel
dom been discussed from the viewpoint of
human rights. That is because throughout
history we have seen population as a problem
linked to hunger, poverty and human survival,
not as a mere philosophical concept.
Threat of Overpopulation
Japan is among the countries that have
been threatened by the nightmare of a major
population problem. The country’s struggle
to tackle this problem was an effort to sur
vive. Anyone familiar with Japan’s history
will know that due to events related to the
threat of overpopulation the country experi
enced several tragic periods in its history
including defeat in war. These tragedies were
very real for the Japanese people. They
were not something that could be remedied
by discussions about philosophy.
Immediately after World War II, Japanese
people had to devise ways to survive and to
fight hunger and poverty. Japan recorded a
high incidence of induced abortion in this
period as a result of the legalization of
abortion - a move that reflected the
government’s strong motivation to stem the
rapidly growing population. The government
also launched a nationwide family planning
program at the grassroots involving public
health nurses and midwives. Due to these
and other efforts, the birthrate was halved in
the 10 years from 1947 to 1957.
Another factor that helped save Japan from
further tragedy was the strong cooperation
shown by many people who joined hands to
work towards a better life. As a result of these
efforts, people came to have confidence that
they were going to survive. After having
lived through this period, I find it difficult to
fully agree with some of the human rights
arguments that are presently being advocated.
In China, many feel that population control
is the only direction which will assure the
survival of the country. There are quite a few
who believe that it is not only the right direc
tion for the Chinese people but also for the
world population at large.
[J~|
8
ANNOUNCEMENTS
African Regional Workshop for the Integrated Project (PANFRICO IV)
Date:
September 27 - October 1, 1993
Venue:
Banjul, The Gambia
Organizers: The Gambia IP National Steering Committee, government of The
Gambia, The Gambia Family Planning Association, UNFPA, IPPF
and JOICFP
Participants: Project director/project coordinator and officer in charge or
technical expert of the nutrition aspect of the IP from the IPimplementing countries of Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Tanzania
and Zambia
Representatives from selected countries of Cameroon, Guinea
(Conakry), Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Theme:
“Integrating FP with MCH services - nutrition as an integral part”
Objectives: (1) To review existing conditions and past experiences in
improving nutritional aspects of the IP in participating countries;
(2) To identify issues of nutrition programs that relate to the
promotion of FP, and to develop strategies and action plans to
improve the nutritional conditions of women and children;
(3) To produce a reference material for project planners and
managers introducing strategies and action plans developed
through the discussions on (1) and (2) above.
Note: Self-funded participants are welcome to attend the workshop. For more
information, please contact JOICFP.
Workshop on Effective Strategies for Sustainable Community-based FP/MCH
Project with Special Focus on Women
In cooperation with the Coordinating Forum of the Integrated Program in Indonesia
and BKKBN (National Family Planning Coordinating Board), JOICFP will conduct
a regional workshop focusing on the effective promotion of the UNFPA-supported
Sustainable Community-based FP/MCH Project with Special Focus on Women in
the Asian Region.
Date:
October 14-23, 1993
Venue:
Jakarta, Indonesia
UNFPA, JOICFP
Sponsors:
Participants: 13 project directors/managers/key resource persons of the above
project and the IP from the countries of Bangladesh, China, India,
Laos, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam
Note: For further information, contact either JOICFP, or Yayasan Kusuma Buana
(YKB), the Indonesian secretariat.
DIARY
JOICFP Program Officer Ryoko Nishida was
in the Philippines from May 23 - June 9 to make
preparations for the UNFPA-supported
“Sustainable Community-based FP/MCH
Project with Special Focus on Women.”
*
*
*
Professor Gary Andrews, director. Center for
Aging Studies, Flinders University of South
Australia, and Dr. John McCallum, senior
research fellow, National Center for
Epidemiology and Population Health,
Australian National University, visited JOICFP
to exchange information on aging issues while
in Japan from June 9-14.
*
*
*
Virginia Ofosu-Amaah, chief, West & Central
Africa Branch, Africa Division, UNFPA, visited
JOICFP on June 17 to exchange information.
*
*
*
Professor Noriji Suzuki, professor emeritus,
Kochi Medical College, and JOICFP program
officers Yukio Honma and Yoshitatsu Kanno
conducted technical training while in China
from May 22 - June 19. The team also took part
in a 12-member JOICFP mission led by
Chairman Chojiro Kunii, which was in China
from June 10 - 19 to attend a series of events
celebrating the 10th anniversary of the IP in
China. JOICFP Deputy Executive Director
Yasuo Kon joined both missions between
June 2 and 19.
*
*
*
JOICFP Program Officer Sumie Ishii was in
Vietnam to attend the Final Evaluation
Workshop for the IP and to hold discussions
with officials of UNFPA, UNICEF and the
government of Vietnam while in the country
from June 3-19.
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 Bckkan
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, August 1993
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