JOICFP NEWS NO.244 OCTOBER 1994.pdf
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NO. 244 October 1994
ISSN 0911-0755
JOICFP NEWS
Family Planning and AIDS on Yokohama Agenda
JFPA sparks debate on relevance
of condom and the pill during
“era of AIDS” at satellite
meeting of Int’l AIDS conference
The Japan Family Planning Association
(JFPA) focused attention on the issue of “family
planning (FP) in the era of AIDS” with a
satellite symposium held on August 6 in
Yokohama, Japan. Specifically, the symposium
focused on the importance of providing access
to oral contraceptives and the necessity of
condoms. The symposium was timed prior to
the 10th International Conference on AIDS/
International Conference on STD, held in
Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo
from August 7-12.
The symposium, organized by JFPA, was
cosponsored by the Japanese Society for STDs,
Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
and Japan Association of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists. It was supported by IPPF and
the International Committee for Research in
Reproduction (ICRR). Dr. Seiichi Matsumoto,
chairman, JFPA, opened the symposium.
The first of three speakers at the event was
Dr. Takashi Wagatsuma, director general,
International Medical Center of Japan, who
called for the authorization of the low-dose oral
contraceptive pill to widen contraceptive choice
in Japan by providing women with an effective
method that they can use. The condom is
effective for prevention of AIDS and STDs, he
said, but the authorization of the pill is essential
from the viewpoint of reproductive rights. He
said he disagreed with the assumption that the
introduction of the pill would influence the
spread of AIDS in Japan.
Dr. Yoshiaki Kumamoto, professor,
Sapporo Medical College, urged wider use of
the condom not just for AIDS prevention but
also to prevent other STDs such as chlamydia.
“Where there is sex, there is transmission of
infection,” he stated.
The third speaker, Dr. Elisabeth
Johannisson, secretary general, ICRR, said that
The Svmposin on Famly Plaoninq in AIDS Era
ojmwbiiv* • i3*m>«AUY« HtantHwsxiase ■ hi«»h*bs
A view of the satellite symposium on "family planning in the era of AIDS" in Yokohama.
the concept of reproductive health does not just
refer to FP, but goes further to embrace such
issues as maternal and child health, prevention
of STDs and infertility. She said that the pill
and the condom both have important parts to
play to effectively promote reproductive health.
Both methods have merits and drawbacks, so
both should be available, she added.
The symposium included a special lecture
on clinical approaches and care for HIVinfected individuals during pregnancy and
labor. The main speaker at this event was Dr.
Yutaka Miyazawa, director, Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo
Metropolitan Otsuka Hospital, one of the
officially designated hospitals in Japan that
handle HIV/AIDS patients. Miyazawa spoke
about the 10 known cases of mother-to-child
HIV transmission that have occurred in Japan,
noting that the actual number of cases is
estimated at 60.
Miyazawa emphasized the importance of
providing counseling to pregnant HIV-positive
women to determine whether they want to
continue or terminate their pregnancies or begin
taking medication such as AZT. Another
important issue when delivering babies to HIV
1
positive mothers by cesarean section is to
ensure that medical and paramedical staff are
effectively protected. “It is easy for staff to
protect themselves if they are given correct
information,” he said. “This would also help
reduce prejudice.” He added that the same
methods used for handling hepatitis patients
can be used for HIV-positive patients.
Meanwhile, the six-day International
Conference on AIDS in Yokohama attracted
about 12,000 people from 130 countries. The
conference considered AIDS issues as the
pandemic enters its second decade and helped
draw attention to the rapid growth in infection
rates. According to the World Bank, 14 to 18
million adults are now thought to be infected
with HIV. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is showing
no signs of slowing around the globe and cases
of AIDS have now been reported in 164
countries in all regions of the world.
Taking the opportunity provided by the
conference, Norio Hattori, deputy director
general, Bureau of Economic Cooperation,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conveyed Japan’s
support of worldwide AIDS-related activities
with an outline of the Global Issues Initiative
(GII) on Population and AIDS.
KAP Survey in Japan
Education Costs Deter Japanese
Women from Childbearing
Exorbitant education costs are the number
one reason cited by Japanese women for the
falling birthrate, according to a survey taken by
the Population Problems Research Council of
the Mainichi Shimbun and published on July
27. In its biannual poll of knowledge, attitude
and practice (KAP) of family planning (FP), the
council found that 57.3% of women consider
education costs as the biggest deterrent to
The dramatic decrease in the
number of children in Japan’s
population is a concern to 77.7% of
women, according to the poll. Some
13.1% said they were very worried,
while 64.6% expressed moderate
concern. When asked for their reasons
for concern, 51.6% of women said that
they were worried that the country
would lose its vitality; 35.9% said they
were concerned about the financial
burden that pensions would place on the
work force; and 32.8% said they were
worried about the burden placed on
care-givers for the elderly.
Despite the concern about the falling
birthrate, most women (67.4%) said that
bearing children was the decision of the
individual and that the government should not
take measures to raise fertility. Only 29.7%
said that the government should take action.
Meanwhile, among all the women polled,
42.2%
considered the ideal number of children
Over half of unmarried women want future
to be two, while 42.0% said that three is best.
partners to help with household chores.
Of this same group, 77.7% said that they relied
on the condom and 13.9% said they used the
childbirth. Stress related to child-rearing was
Ogino rhythm method for contraception. The
noted as the second deterrent by 51.6% of
majority of married women (67.7%) had never
respondents. The total fertility rate (TER) of
experienced an induced abortion; while 16.0%
Japan dropped to a low of 1.46 in 1993.
had experienced an abortion once; 6.8% twice;
The 22nd National Survey on Family
2.5% three times; and 0.6% four or more times.
Planning was conducted in cooperation with the When asked under what circumstances abortion
Family Planning Federation of Japan (FPFJ),
should be permitted, 26.3% said it should be
Japan Family Planning Association (JFPA) and
permitted without conditions, while 55.1% said
JOICFP. The survey was launched in 1950 by
it should be permitted with conditions. When
the council, which was honored with the UN
they were asked to name legitimate conditions
Population Award in 1993 for its efforts to
for abortion, 47.7% cited contraceptive failure
create awareness of population issues through
and 70.4% cited economic difficulties.
the poll. This year’s survey polled 3,995
When unmarried women were asked what
women between the ages of 16 and 49 for a
qualities they seek in a partner, 75.8% replied
response rate of 69.4%.
good character; 52.2% said someone who helps
them with household
chores; and 33.4% said
someone financially wellPopulation & Society of Postwar Japan
off. Over half of
unmarried women
People wishing to purchase the English-language publication The
(51.5%) cited two as the
Population and Society of Postwar Japan should contact the Mainichi
desired number of
Shimbun Population Problems Research Council. The book’s price of
children, while 25.7%
US$65 includes mailing costs. For inquiries, please contact the council
said that three was a
at: 1-1-1, Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-51. Japan.
desirable number.
Phone: 81-3-3211-0954/Fax: 81-3-3211-0891.
When unmarried
2
A significant 57.3% of women consider education
costs to be the biggest deterrent to childbirth.
women were asked about sex, 41.5% said that
they had had sexual experiences. Of this group,
54.1% were presently practicing FP; 35.5% had
practiced FP; and 8.7% had never practiced.
The survey results found that 25.9% of all
women polled had experienced induced
abortion. In particular, the poll indicated an
increasing trend of induced abortion among
teenagers and women in their late 30s.
Brief Guide to GII
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Japan has published a booklet on the
Global Issues Initiative (GII) on
Population and AIDS. The publication has
four chapters and
features many
photos throughout.
Population and AIDS
Background to
population issues
and AIDS is
covered
in chapter
»
1; an outline of
Japan’s approach
to assistance is
provided in chapter 2; an introduction to
Japanese assistance that has been provided
so far is included in chapter 3; while the
closing chapter focuses on cooperation and
coordination with international
organizations and other donor countries.
Copies can be obtained from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
JOICFP NEWS, October 1994
FP Seminar
Learning from Experience
FP seminar participants gain
take-home lessons from Japan’s
postwar experiences
Family planning (FP) administration was
not the only issue on the agenda for participants
of the Seminar on Family Planning
Administration for Senior Officers II, held in
Tokyo from August 6-26. Luckily for the FP
administrators, the seminar coincided with the
10th International Conference on AIDS, held in
Yokohama from August 7-12. Their attendance
at this major international event enabled them
to broaden their knowledge of the complexity
and extent of the global AIDS problem.
The seminar itself provided participants
Students handle infants as part of the adolescent
health education program of Ikawa Town.
with an opportunity to exchange information
and experiences on FP and to learn about
Japan’s postwar experiences in FP and maternal
and child health (MCH) promotion and the
country’s demographic transition. The ultimate
aim of the seminar was to improve participant’s
skills of administration of FP programs in their
home countries. The seminar was entrusted to
JOICFP by the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) as part of Japan’s bilateral
assistance activities.
Japan’s experiences were an inspiration to
participants who highlighted several aspects as
applicable to their country situations. These
included Japan’s success in involving the
community in FP implementation; the
integration of FP and MCH; and the
collaboration among non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), governmental
organizations (GOs) and the community.
Jaruwun Jongvanich of Thailand, was
JOICFP NEWS, October 1994
particularly impressed with the role that women
have played as volunteers in villages in Japan to
raise the health status of the people through FP/
MCH promotion. She also praised the close
GO-NGO cooperation in health care in Japan
and the strong leadership role taken by NGOs.
“The role of NGOs in postwar Japan began
in a modest way but became a force to reckon
with,” said Nene Akresi Korda II of Ghana.
“The self-supporting efforts of these NGOs are
very impressive.” He added, “Health centers in
Japan emphasize preventive measures as
compared to the curative activities in my
country, which are highly costly.”
For Rita de Cacia Badiani of Brazil, the
preventive health care work undertaken by the
health centers in FP/MCH was one
aspect of the Japanese experience that
she would try to apply in her country.
She added that she would also like to
apply the self-reliance strategies of the
Japan Family Planning Association.
To smooth the exchange of
experiences among participants, the
seminar included country presentation
sessions in the form of a panel
discussion. Topics were chosen for
relevance to the International
Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in
September and covered: “gender
equality and women’s empowerment”;
“reproductive rights and health”; and
“collaboration and coordination
among GOs, NGOs and the private sector.”
The exchange of experiences proved
beneficial for participants who welcomed the
exposure to the various approaches taken by
different countries. The exchange also enabled
participants to grasp an understanding of
cultural and social factors that hinder or
promote FP implementation, while providing
them with an opportunity to tackle common
issues. Participants said the seminar helped
them realize that South-South and South-North
collaboration is possible and that developing
countries have similar problems, traditions and
religion which affect development. The need
for women to take an active role in their
empowerment was also noted as an important
issue for all countries.
“My interaction with other participants has
not only broadened my knowledge in areas of
training pertaining to FP/MCH management,
but has given me more insight into cultural and
3
A midwife demonstrates delivery techniques
at Tokushima Public Health Center.
social variables that impede or assist FP/MCH
implementation and management,” said Nene.
“I am more convinced that this globe of ours
and its inhabitants are one people.”
Participants were introduced to actual FP/
MCH activities in Japan during a field trip to
Tokushima Prefecture where they observed
health-care programs firsthand and talked with
people involved. The schedule also included a
visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where
participants were given an outline of the Global
Issues Initiative (GII) on Population and AIDS.
The visit was welcomed by the FP
administrators who expressed a desire to
continue collaboration with Japan in the future.
1
n
A 3-year-old child receives a checkup at
Tokushima Public Health Center.
State of World Population
Women’s
Empowerment Key to a Better
Future
z
State of World Population
report predicts 10 billion world
population by 2050
In this year’s State of World Population
Report, UNFPA states that women’s
empowerment is the key to solving population
problems. Released on August 17, the report
provides forecasts of global population growth
and outlines needs for the future. The report
was released prior to the International
Conference on Population and Development
(ICPD), held in Cairo in September, and notes
promoting equality between the genders as an
important aim of the conference. Below is a
summary of the report.
Free and equal access for both men and
women to health care, family planning (FP) and
education is not only desirable in itself but is a
a
1.1
Bl
Making contact with the world outside their homes, learning a skill, working and earning money
transforms the lives of many women, says the report.
Photo courtesy of unfpa.
practical contribution to environmental
protection and economic development. In
particular, women’s growing command of the
means to manage their own
fertility improves women’s
health and opens up a range
of
options regarding
ICPD Unites Japanese NGOs
education, marriage,
employment, housing and
Japanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
migration. It will also help
that participated in the International Conference on
in achieving balanced
Population and Development (ICPD) were given a
population growth.
briefing prior to the September conference in Cairo on
Slower population
August 11. Representatives from 12 NGOs and the mass
growth
will relieve pressure
media were briefed on the ICPD program, particularly
on
the
environment
and other
the activities for NGOs at the NGO Forum, and were
problem
areas,
and
grant
given an outline of the general arrangements for
time to find solutions. For
participants.
the countries concerned,
Providing an overview of
even the difference of a
the meeting was Dr.
decade in the transition to
Hirofumi Ando, deputy
lower fertility can have a
executive
director,
UNFPA.
' Jr
considerable impact on the
The meeting was
quality of life, for example,
particularly beneficial for the
in providing education,
NGO representatives who
quality
health care and
expressed a common desire
Ando
employment opportunities.
to cooperate closely to
The world population in
ensure the best possible outcome of the conference.
mid-1994 was 5.66 billion.
This shared understanding led to the creation of a list of
It will be 6 billion by 1998.
participants as a first step to establishing a network
Although overall fertility
among the NGOs, a move that helped smooth activities
rates
have fallen, annual
prior to and during the ICPD.
increases are at 94 million a
4
year, the highest increases in history. After
1997, annual additions will start to decline, and
by 2020 the annual increase will be 85 million.
Nearly all this growth is in Asia, Africa and
Latin America. Over half of the growth is in
South Asia and Africa, with many of the
poorest countries in the world.
..
yi
r-w*
j*.__ t'-. *
*
- V *.& /
*-■
■
Merely being able to read and write gives
women confidence outside the home, says
the report.
Photo courtesy of UNFPA.
JOICFPNEWS, October 1994
State of World Population
World population is projected to reach 8.5
billion by the year 2025 and 10 billion by 2050.
However, if fertility does not continue to
decline, world population could reach 12.5
billion by 2050.
Many of the actions that must be taken to
alleviate poverty, improve food supply, end
malnutrition, and provide adequate housing are
the same as those required to achieve balanced
population growth. These include extending
the range of choice available to individuals,
especially women, and equalizing opportunities
between the sexes from birth onward.
The priority for the remaining years of this
century must be to ensure that individual needs
and public policy remain in harmony and that
individual needs form the basis of public policy.
Empowering women means extending
choices: choices about if and when to get
married, choices about education, employment
opportunities, controlling the social and
physical environment; choices about if and
when to get pregnant, and ultimately about
family size. Empowerment requires that
husbands, partners, family members and
communities help to promote a healthy
environment free from coercion, violence or
abuse, in which women are free to use
Report Introduced to
Japanese Press
All major Japanese newspapers, TV
stations and radio stations were
represented at a special press lecture on
UNFPA’s State of World Population 1994
report, held in Tokyo on August 10. The
meeting was held prior to the official
release of the report by UNFPA at noon
GMT on August 17.
The report was introduced by Dr.
Hirofumi Ando, deputy executive director,
and Kyoichi Nakamura, information
advisor, Information and External
Relations Division, UNFPA, with the
support of Dr. Toshio Kuroda, director
emeritus, Nihon University Population
Research Institute (NUPRI). Among the
highlights of the report were the
references to women’s empowerment and
the forecast of a world population of 10
billion in 2050. A briefing on the
International Conference on Population
and Development (ICPD) followed the
introduction of the report.
JOICFP NEWS, October 1994
community
services on a
basis of equality.
The role of
education in
enhancing
women’s social
power is
undisputed.
Education
influences the
number of
children a
woman wants
and the number
of children she
bears. It is
important for
Boys who learn responsibilities early in life are more likely to be responsible
girls to have
later in life, says the report.
Photo courtesy of unfpa.
equal access to
formal
schooling, but women also need special training growth, and thus to a solution of the central
outside school. Education for older women is
issue for the 21st century — how to balance
important because they often have influential
human needs and human numbers.
roles in the family and community.
Continued cooperation among
Governments worldwide are investing
governments, the UN, non-governmental
considerable resources in confronting
organizations (NGOs) and the private sector
population growth, but in the final analysis,
must be encouraged to ensure that the successes
success or failure depends on the decision of
of the past 25 years will continue.
individual women and men, in the pursuit of
their own personal interests.
Zimbabwe, Thailand and Colombia are
UNFPA News Mission
examples of the impact of integrated policies.
Although the conditions in these countries vary
Four journalists from three countries
widely and each uses different methods, their
learned
firsthand about population issues
successes are all based on a similar approach:
during
a
news mission to the Philippines
providing freedom of choice leads to increased
from
July
13-21. The mission was
responsibility on the part of individuals.
organized
by
UNFPA to bring population
The means are available that would allow
issues
to
the
attention
of the media with
most of the women in the world to plan how
the
aim
of
deepening
the
understanding
many children they wish to have and when to
among
the
public.
have them. However, access to health care,
During their visit, the journalists
particularly reproductive health care, is still
from
Japan, New Zealand and Australia
inadequate. There are approximately 120
were
introduced to population issues in
million women who wish to plan their families
urban
and rural areas and their impact on
but do not have access to modern
social
and economic development. The
contraceptives.
team
visited
public and private facilities
All countries can learn from the successful
including
health
centers and interviewed
strategies that meet individual needs —
people
involved
in
population and family
especially those of women — and that also
planning
programs.
contribute to national development priorities.
The two Japanese journalists were
Countries need to undertake a number of
Tsutomu
Ozaki, staff writer, Mainichi
initiatives including increasing national
Shimbun,
and Kaori lida, reporter, Japan
investment in the areas of human development,
Broadcasting
Corporation (NHK). As
especially in education, health and improving
follow-ups
to
the visit, NHK broadcast a
the status of women — the building blocks of
special
TV
program
and the Mainichi
sustainable economic development.
Shimbun
published
a
report.
Extended globally, these national programs
will contribute to slower overall population
5
In the News
Grassroots Project in Vietnam
Expands
A JOICFP mission drew up a work plan
with Vietnamese counterparts for the expansion
of the Integrated Project (IP) during a visit to
Vietnam in July. The plan is to be implemented
in 1994-1995 with US$200,000 recently
allocated by UNFPA. The project will be
expanded to cover a total of 80 communes,
including the 70 existing IP communes. The
project has also attracted funding from
widening sources in Japan including support
from the Postal Savings for International
Voluntary Aid (POSIVA), administered by the
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
Funds from UNFPA will be used mainly for
training at the district and commune levels.
One of the main aims of the work plan is to
move the responsibility for such activities as
training away from the central level to make
them the responsibility of each province. The
new work plan also calls for futher coordination
and sharing of experiences with existing
UNFPA projects in other areas. Personnel
already trained under UNFPA projects will also
be utilized in the JOICFP project and a uniform
recording system is to be adopted in all
communes. To further ensure effective use of
existing materials, formats and trained
personnel, the activities of the IP will be
coordinated with other national efforts.
Meanwhile, the POSIVA funds will be used
to replace basic medical equipment including
midwife kits and delivery beds and to provide
training in 30 commune health centers in the
two northern IP provinces. Essential
drugs, IEC materials and other
equipment will also be purchased with
the approximately US$100,000 allocated
by the ministry.
JOICFP’s efforts to increase
awareness in Japan also raised another
US$4,500 for Vietnam from the Japanese
public, particularly from women’s groups
in Nagano Prefecture. The donations
were distributed in the project areas in
the south of Vietnam for use as revolving
funds for income-generating projects.
The JOICFP mission visited all IP
districts and spoke to people to gain a
fuller understanding of project needs.
Among the areas highlighted was training for
midwives, volunteers and women engaged in
income-generating projects.
Targeting Aboriginal Needs
Staff of JOICFP and the Japan Family Planning
Association (JFPA) were given an overview of the HIV/
AIDS and STD situation in Australia, particularly among
the Aboriginal population by two visiting officials on
August 16. Marilyn Chaikey, director, Education Unit,
AIDS/Communicable Diseases Branch, Commonwealth
Department of Human Services and Health, explained that
the national government of Australia has given priority to
projects to
[zr fa
I
prevent HIV/
anaKOTcrea
Marilyn Chaikey
AIDS, STDs
and communicable diseases among Aboriginal
I, «
and Torres Strait Islander people. The
educational Magnel Kit developed jointly by
JFPA and JOICFP is being used to educate this
and other groups, she said. Chaikey and the
JFPA and JOICFP officials also discussed
planned revisions of the kit to improve its
Peter Gourlay
effectiveness for health education related to
STD and AIDS prevention. Chaikey was accompanied by Peter Gourlay, education and
training director, Family Planning Association of Victoria, Inc.
fcz-
/""I
6
Small Project for
Higher Learning
A small-scale project launched by the
students of Tokiwa Junior High School in
Suzaka City of Japan’s Nagano Prefecture has
done much to promote education in two
primary schools of Vietnam’s Ben Luc District
in Long An Province. Funds raised by the
students in a campaign dubbed the “World
Children in Long An Province examine books
donated with funds from Japan.
Volunteer Project (WVP)” were used to provide
the two schools with books, which are in short
supply at the community level in Vietnam.
Members of a JOICFP mission observed
students using the books at the primary schools
in Than Phu Commune and Tan Buu Commune
during their visit in July. The schools have
1,700 and 850 students, respectively.
To raise the funds, the Japanese students
used their spare time to print the WVP logo and
map of Vietnam on 1,000 donated T-shirts.
These were later sold at the Consumers’
Festival of Suzaka City to raise US$1,500.
The seeds of the project were planted by
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoai Due, former national
director of the Integrated Project (IP) of
Vietnam, who visited the school last year. The
Japanese students were moved by the visitor’s
description of the desperate shortage of books
and poor conditions of schools in Vietnam.
They were also surprised to learn that despite
these conditions, Vietnam has a very high
literacy rate.
The campaign continues to attract a
growing number of followers within the school
and has sparked the interest of teachers and
parents alike. It has even caught on among
local residents of Suzaka who have shown
interest in taking part in international
cooperation activities.
JOICFP NEWS, October 1994
People
Today’s Challenge Meeting
Unmet Demands
President of the Population
Council says that times have
changed and it is time for action
Margaret Catley-Carlson, president, the
Population Council, provided an overview of
her organization and spoke about population
issues during an interview with JOICFP NEWS
on August 13. Below is an outline.
The unique quality of the council is that it
blends the three necessary parts of the science
of looking at population. The first is the
biomedical part.
The council is a well-established source of
knowledge about human reproductive
physiology and contraceptive techniques.
The second part is the ability to look at the
macro-demographic forces. We do need to
understand as a world what is causing changes
in fertility. Why is the highest fertility found in
areas under a lot of stress such as the West
Bank and Gaza? Yet the lowest-fertility
societies — the former Soviet Union, the
eastern part of Germany and Hungary and
Romania — are also under a lot of stress.
You cannot just say, “Well it’s obvious if
people are under stress, they will act in a
certain way,” because I’ve just given two
different examples of societies that are under
Mechai Wins Magsaysay
Award
Mechai Viravaidya, secretary general,
Population and Community Development
Association
(PDA) of
Thailand, was
recently awarded
the 1994 Ramon
Magsaysay Award
for
Public Service.
Mechai
A renowned anti
AIDS campaigner, Mechai was chosen for
his “rigorous, honest and compassionate”
response to HIV/AIDS. The Manila
based award foundation noted that due to
the efforts of Mechai, Thailand has the
most comprehensive government response
to the AIDS epidemic in Asia.
JOICFP NEWS, October 1994
enormous stress. There is a lot we
need to understand about societies about the ways societies are put
together legally, socially,
economically, and how that will
impact on fertility.
The third necessary part is the
research on a whole gamut of issues
Margaret Catley-Carlson
that really focus on the individual.
This includes research into how the
reproductive health of individuals could be
During my stay in Japan, I was enormously
improved; why individuals make the decisions
pleased to meet with Mr. Kunii. I really felt
they do about going to clinics; and how those
that I was in the presence of important Japanese
managing and serving in FP clinics can improve history. I think what JOICFP has done has been
their services.
really important in Japan - a country that does
I would like the world to understand that
not have an established non-governmentalworking in population is much more “do-able”
organization tradition.
than is usually assumed. First of all, there is
JOICFP has gone out and worked in areas
definitely an unmet demand, an unmet need.
that are tough. It has raised public support and
That was not the case 20 years ago. At least if
public awareness over the years and established
it was the case, it wasn’t well-documented.
a global network to really meet the concerns of
People’s perceptions of themselves, their most
the most dispossessed people — people living
desirable futures, and what they can offer their
at a very modest means of survival. JOICFP
children are increasingly tied to their desires to
has stayed true to that mandate and expanded it
have smaller families.
with the addition of FP.
So we’ve got to meet the demand that is out
there and meet it as quickly as possible because
it is totally unnecessary to have a planetary
Kunii Awarded
population of 9-10 billion people. Steep
population growth is not necessary because the
demand is there to change it and the techniques, •
JOICFP Chairman Chojiro Kunii
•
technologies and mechanisms also exist. We
• was honored on August 3 by the
*
really just have to put the resources to the task
• minister of foreign affairs for his
•
and get on with it.
9 contribution as an individual to the
*
When I get pessimistic it is the race against • promotion of international cooperation. •
ecological time that gives me worries. Is there
• JOICFP previously won the same award J
a series of triggers in the stress that we put on
• as an institution in 1991. In honoring
•
the environment that is going to create
• Kunii, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono
*
enormous difficulties? I have great faith in
• noted Kunii’s promotion of the
•
human potential to keep maximizing and
J application of the Japanese postwar
®
capitalizing on gains that have been made. But • experience and humanistic approach to •
so far, we have not yet the kind of collective
• family planning in the Integrated
*
spirit and collective intention, for example, to
• Project. The project, which has been
•
substitute internal-combustion engines with
• implemented in 25 countries in three
®
solar or alternative forms of energy. We have
• regions of the world since 1974, has
•
never put the kind of human energy into
• won strong support at the grassroots, he •
substitute forms of energy that we did in getting • said. The minister praised Kunii for his •
to the moon, that we did into military weapons
• deep beliefs and philosophies and said
*
...all those campaigns. I do not think we take
• he was a strong leader and significant
•
very seriously as a species the fact that we are
• contributor to international cooperation *
probably living very close to some ecological,
• activities within Japan.
•
sustainable margins.
7
VOICE OF VOICES
By Chojiro Kunii
The APCO Movement
The Asian Parasite Control Organization
(APCO) is a voluntary group consisting mainly
of parasitologists from Southeast Asia. Their
aim is to control parasite infections, using the
process of eradication to motivate people to
take actions to improve the quality of life.
In the postwar years in Japan, parasite
control (PC) quickly caught on and the
movement spread nationwide through the
primary schools and workplaces that were used
DIARY
- Paul White, minister counselor for
development cooperation, U.S. Embassy in Japan,
and Kenneth Farr, chief, Population Division,
USAID, Indonesia, visited JOICFP on July 7 to
exchange information.
-JOICFP Program Officer Atsushi Yoshino and
staff member Soon Hee Lee visited Taiwan,
China, for discussions on film distribution from
July 10-15.
- Paul White, U.S. Embassy in Japan, visited
JOICFP on July 15 to speak on USAID’s policy
and activities with Japanese NGOs.
- Program Officer Sumie Ishii and staff member
Mariko Honma visited Vietnam for project
monitoring from July 4 - 22.
- Kyoichi Nakamura, information advisor,
Information and External Relations Division,
UNFPA, visited JOICFP on July 22 for
discussions related to the Japanese version of the
State of World Population.
-Fausto Camunha, secretary, Sports and
Tourism, State Government of Sao Paulo, Brazil,
visited JOICFP for discussions on July 26.
- Omer Ertur, UNFPA country director, Nepal,
visited JOICFP on Aug. 6 for discussions.
-Margaret Catley-Carlson, president,
Population Council, visited JOICFP on Aug. 10 to
exchange information.
JOICFP Program Officer Ryoko Nishida was in
as promotion channels. The movement was
later introduced to Taiwan and Korea.
The expansion of the movement led to the
establishment of APCO 20 years ago. The
organization has continued to expand over the
years from PC to embrace such activities as
family planning and maternal and child health
(MCH). Activities have also expanded
geographically throughout Asia and centers
have been set up in both China and Indonesia in
recent years. Currently, in Taicang City of
China, efforts are being made with the
government to form a body for PC promotion.
The health movement that springs from PC
is one in which people participate freely. The
health of mothers and children is a basic
O
o the Philippines from July 24 - Aug. 11 for
O monitoring of the UNFPA-supported project.
O - Dr. Hirofumi Ando, deputy executive director,
() and Kyoichi Nakamura, UNFPA, visited JOICFP
() from Aug. 8-11 for activities related to the ICPD.
- Marilyn Chaikey, director, Education Unit,
Y
O AIDS/Communicable Diseases Branch,
o Commonwealth Department of Human Services
o and Health, and Peter Gourlay, director,
o Education and Training, Family Planning
Association of Victoria Inc., Australia, visited
<> JOICFP on Aug. 16 for discussions.
()
- Eleven participants from 10 IP-implementing
C)
countries attended the 16th APCO Parasitologists’
o
Meeting organized by Japan Association of
o Parasite Control in cooperation with JOICFP.
C)
- Sri Jamtini, MCH Division, NFPCB,
o Indonesia, visited JOICFP on Aug. 18 to exchange
o information.
o - Paul White, U.S. Embassy in Japan, and Karen
o Y. Morita, health/population coordinator, U.S.o Japan Common Agenda, visited JOICFP on Aug.
C) 18 to exchange information on GIL
() - JOICFP Program Officer Sumie Ishii was in
() Laos from Aug. 8 -19 for monitoring of the
() UNFPA-supported project.
O - Dr. Ronny A. Shtarkshall. president, Israel
O Family Planning Association, visited JOICFP on
O Aug. 19 to exchange information.
concern of every community and as such, is an
effective starting point for expanding into other
areas related to health such as the securing of
safe drinking water, construction of sanitary
toilets, and prevention of infectious diseases.
The efforts naturally develop into a more
comprehensive preventive health and MCH
movement. Even humble efforts by community
people can have a significant impact on
community well-being.
This movement is characterized by the
“self-help” efforts of the people who strive to
improve their lives without depending on
government support. In Taicang City, for
example, the staff of the Integrated Project (IP)
is charging a fee of 2 yuan (23 U.S. cents) for
every parasite examination as a means to
promote project self-reliance.
I am deeply moved that people are willing
to pay for these services and that the project is
earning some income. The people involved in
the project are working in good faith to ensure
project sustainability.
JOIClftP "Women's health andStatus Series
________ A New Animated Film_________
My Way
13 min., Color/English, Thai
Sexual relationships between teenagers tend to place
young women in much more serious situations, both
physically and mentally, than their partners. Four young
women ore depicted in this film, each with a chance to
have a sexual relationship w;th her boyfriend. What
desires does each girl feel for her partner? How does
each girl make her own, personal choice?
My Way is the first film in the Women's Health and
Status Series. It was produced specifically for the Asian
region. It is an animated film jointly produced by Japan
and Thailand, the first country in the world to promote AIDS
education on a nationwide scale.
Distributed by
Sakura Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
Yoyogi Center Bldg., 57-1 Yoyogi 1-chome
Shibuyo-ku, Tokyo 151, Jopon
Tel: 81-3-33206311/Fox 81 3-33207666
Telex: J34799 ITCINBTH
16mm-VTR (Beta, VHS/NTSC, PAL, SECAM)
JOICFP’s Kon Joins National Delegation to Cairo
Yasuo Kon, deputy executive director of JOICFP, was one of three representatives of non
governmental organizations (NGOs) selected on August 23 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
join the official Japanese delegation to the International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD), held in Cairo from September 5 - 13. The selection of Kon reflects his
40 years of work in family planning in Japan and JOICFP’s 25-year experience in international
cooperation activities in the field of family planning. The ministry’s move marked the first time
for NGO representatives to be included in a government delegation to a major UN population
conference and indicates a more open attitude toward NGOs.
The two other NGO officials were Keiko Higuchi of Japan’s Network for Women’s Health,
Cairo ’94, and Shunsuke Iwasaki of People’s Forum 2001.
8
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:
I
JOICFP NEWS
Hoken Kalkan Bekkan
1-1, Ichigaya Sadohara-cho
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162 Japan
Phone: 81-3-3268-5875
Facsimile: 81-3-3235-7090
JOICFPNEWS, October 1994
Position: 3199 (3 views)