UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
|
| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
|
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This document is being made available by the UNFPA CST/Bangkok and the
Population Information Network (POPIN). For further information please
contact Director, UNFPA/CST Bangkok, United Nations Building, 14th Floor,
Rajdamnern Avenue, GPO Box 618 Bangkok 10501, Thailand or via fax (662)
2802715; telex 82315ESCAP TH, or cable: UNDEVPRO BANGKOK
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UNFPA COUNTRY SUPPORT TEAM FOR EAST AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA
NEWSLETTER
VOL. 4 NO. 2 - AUGUST 1996
CST in review
The Changing Patterns of CST Technical
Support to Countries
In his mid-term report to UNFPA Headquarters on the CST's
performance for 1996, Mr. Ghazi Farooq, CST Director, noted with
satisfaction that "in spite of four vacant posts for much of the
period, January - June 1996, the CST carried out a very hectic work
programme and, in terms of the CST missions alone, the Team fielded
the highest number of mission days recorded so far (three advisers
were on mission for a 100 or more days each)."
The Director observed that the Team was able to meet the
requirement of its full involvement in: the large programme
development exercise carried out by UNFPA, Jakarta for the UNFPA
country programme cycle for Indonesia; PRSD and programme needs
assessment missions for Cambodia, Myanmar, Mongolia and Lao PDR; and
programme/project development and technical backstopping in Cambodia,
DPR of Korea, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Viet Nam.
Several important activities were undertaken in regard to the
follow-up of the ICPD-POA and new UNFPA programme activities. The
Team further promoted an increased use of TSS Specialists which was
also necessary in view of the increased countries' demand for
technical backstopping and the reduced strength of the CST.
A special feature of this 6-month report is the inclusion of
a brief analysis on the country programme support activities of
selected countries and some lessons learned. (See boxed article.)
Several major developments took place during the period under
review.
Changing pattern of CST missions
The pace of mission activity was maintained. There were 58
missions taken during the reporting period accounting for 698 mission
days. The salient aspects of CST technical support and backstopping
missions are reflected in the different stages in which the
individual countries are on the programme cycle. Compared with July-
December 1995, during the reporting period the share of programme and
project development and PRSDs rose sharply from 13 to 42 percent in
terms of mission days. [See Chart 1]
In terms of the type of countries, the least developed
countries and/or disadvantaged economies in transition (Cambodia, Lao
PDR, Mongolia, Myanmar and Viet Nam) accounted for 45 percent of
mission-days. In terms of the new country classification that UNFPA
has adopted, about 38 percent of mission days were devoted to Group
A countries (i.e. Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia and Myanmar)of the
subregion, 43 percent to Group B (i.e. Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines and Viet Nam), and 6 percent to Group C (i.e. China, DPR
Korea and Thailand). [See Chart 2]
During the reporting period, Indonesia received the maximum
attention in terms of mission-days (156 days, 22 percent) and
Cambodia was the other large recipient (116 days, 17 percent). Among
the missions undertaken during the reporting period, specific mention
may be made of the following:
* PRSD missions to Cambodia and Mongolia
* A programming mission, which used the PRSD approach,
to Myanmar
* Coordinated missions of a group of advisers to
Indonesia to help develop a number of project and
programme proposals under the new country programme.
* Missions to assist CST Kathmandu and CST Addis Ababa
in areas where CST Bangkok has comparative
strengths.
Looking back over the past 12 months, July 1995 - June 1996,
a trend towards greater collaboration between the CST Bangkok and
other CSTs can be discerned. The CST Bangkok has assisted the CST
Addis Ababa in the area of population information and documentation
and the CST Kathmandu in the areas of data processing and RH/FP. In
the case of RH/FP, the inputs from CST Bangkok were needed due to
vacancies in RH/FP posts in the CST Kathmandu. Colleagues from
Kathmandu and Suva had equally reciprocated by actively getting
involved in PRSD/programming missions to Cambodia, Mongolia, Myanmar
and Viet Nam.
Increased involvement of TSS Specialists and Agency Staff
A major highlight was the large number of missions carried
out by TSS Specialists on the request of UNFPA Representatives/CST
Director. In total 13 missions were carried out by TSS Specialists
and Agency staff of FAO, ILO, UN Statistical and Population Divisions
and ESCAP to Cambodia, DPR of Korea, the Philippines, Viet Nam and
CST Office, Bangkok, to provide technical backstopping to projects,
act as resource persons in selected training activities, and
participate in various meetings.
Increased technical backstopping from the CST Office
Following the recommendations of the March 1995 Consultative
Meeting of CDS/NPOs and CST, the volume of technical backstopping by
the Team from the CST Office has been increasing continuously. More
than 20 large draft programme/project proposals (mostly from
Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand) were appraised by
the CST and comments and suggestions provided for revisions.
In addition, the CST provided technical inputs and reviews,
comments and suggestions on the outlines and drafts of substantive
outputs (including survey reports, manuals, training material, etc.)
being produced under several of the UNFPA-funded country projects,
policy papers, etc., particularly from Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Republic of Korea and Viet Nam.
Training activities
As part of its goal to help create national technical
capacity and promote self-reliance, the CST carried out, inter alia,
following training activities:
* "National Workshop of the Viet Nam Population
Information Network", Hanoi, 26-27 April 1996 (in
collaboration with the Population Division of
ESCAP).
* Attachment training of five senior government
officials from DPR of Korea on "New directions in
population and development" in the CST Office from
2-10 May 1996.
* "Inter-country Training Course on Population
Education Documentation and Information Services",
organized jointly with the UNESCO Regional Office
for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok from 6-24 May
1996.
Collaboration with partner and other UN agencies
The continuing strong collaboration between the CST and
partner agencies is clear from the number of missions undertaken by
TSS Specialists and Agency staff to various countries in the
subregion. The CST organized a special CST seminar by Ms. Pratima
Kale, new UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific.
This was attended by senior colleagues from almost all Bangkok-based
UN agencies. Ms. Kale reaffirmed her office's continued
collaboration with the CST on regional and country activities.
Country Programme Support Activities: Some Lessons Learned
Cambodia
UNFPA's first Country Programme in Cambodia was launched
under a desperate situation characterized by poor maternal health,
serious lack of access to family planning information and services,
absence of any official policies and programmes for family planning
and a very limited government machinery to implement donor-supported
programmes.
Recently, the new Government has been able to consolidate its
authority and exercise discipline in terms administrative structure.
The Ministry of Health has also shown signs of proficiency in
formulating health and birth spacing policies with UNFPA assistance,
including CST technical support, making an important contribution to
the process.
The UNFPA programme support has been an important catalyst
in generating among Government circles sufficient interest in
formulating clear policies and strategies. The CST has been
providing technical support in the process of implementation and
monitoring the UNFPA programmes. Although the impact in terms of
contraceptive prevalence is not visible yet, there is sufficient
evidence that the stage has been set for achievements in near future.
The CST has contributed in the recent PRSD exercise to
develop assessment of present situation and identification of future
needs for UNFPA assistance. Presently, unmet needs for fertility
regulation are high, estimated at around 78 percent. This has not
been transformed into effective demand possibly due to public
ignorance about family planning. Continued support is needed for
further strengthening the MOH system to undertake the responsibility
for implementing RH/FP services.
Important areas for future support have been identified
taking into account the experience of other countries and the
emerging trend in the subregion. These include: much greater IEC
efforts designed to improve public knowledge of family planning and
its sources; development of providers' skills and strengthening of
service capacity through supplies, equipment and drugs; and technical
supervision and integration of selected RH services to make them
user-friendly. Simultaneously, to create better access, there is a
need to open up additional channels of information and services
through social marketing, community-based delivery and NGO
activities. In line with the PRSD recommendations, the CST has
recently assisted the MOH in developing a major project proposal on
RH/FP.
Republic of Korea
The Republic of Korea has undergone a revolution in RH
behaviour over the last couple of decades. Fertility has declined
to a far below replacement level (TFR = 1.7), through concerted
national population policy and programmes. Achievements have
exceeded the Government's expectations in terms of population goals,
but several new population problems have emerged. This necessitated
the revision of the national population policy. The CST Bangkok was
requested to assist the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs
(KIHASA) in developing an integrated framework and plan for future
directions of the new population policy.
Besides shifting the emphasis of target-oriented policies to
quality-of-care and welfare policies, the scope of the new population
policy has been expanded to include ICPD-POA goals. The new
population policy was approved by the Cabinet in June 1996. In
developing this policy, the role of CST was crucial in coordinating
and building consensus among sectoral participating agencies to
facilitate the process of developing an integrated population and
development policy. Though the country has expertise and
specialization in the different areas of population and development,
the CST advisers were able to play a catalytic role in developing a
comprehensive set of integrated population policies in the broader
context of ICPD-POA. The inputs of UNFPA, particularly CST Bangkok,
were greatly appreciated by the President of KIHASA and the Ministry
of Health.
Myanmar
Experience shows that the traditional approach of promoting
RH/FP through a number of relatively independent country projects
under different workplan categories does not lead to an adequately
integrated or thematic approach to the problem. Myanmar provided an
opportunity to take into account this lesson. The CST helped to
develop a project using the integrated programme approach, covering
five major components: RH/FP Services, Management Information System,
Fertility and Reproductive Health Survey, Maternal Mortality Study,
and IEC/Advocacy. Each of these components was implemented by
different agencies, including an established NGO, in such a way that
common activities such as training, IEC and counselling material
development, equipment and supply purchase and distribution are
undertaken jointly.
It is for the first time that the Department of Health is
both executing and implementing the project. However, during the
Induction Workshop, it was found out that the National Project
Director and his project team would need substantial amount of
assistance from UNFPA Field Office in the project execution. The
CST, in collaboration with the CTA, can play a proactive role in
facilitating and coordinating various sectoral partner agencies in
project implementation.
Several UN agencies, including UNDP, UNICEF and WHO, were
involved in the project development and designing the various project
component activities so as to enhance coordination and collaboration
and avoid duplication and wastage of valuable resources.
CST Strategies and Approaches
The Status of Population Information Systems in East and South-East
Asia : Lessons Learned
"Information is perhaps the most powerful tool available to people,
one that opens up new possibilities for the exercise of both human
rights and responsibilities...Countries should establish information
mechanisms, where appropriate, to facilitate the systematic
collection, analysis and dissemination and utilization of population-
related information at the national and international levels, and
networks should be established or strengthened at the national,
subregional, regional and global levels to promote information and
experience exchange"
-- ICPD Programme of Action
(Chapter XI, B, p.81)
Population programmes in Asia and the Pacific span over two
decades of existence. Over the years, the programmes have produced
abundant information generated from surveys, socio-cultural and
biomedical research. Experiences related to population policy
formulation and implementation, and the development of IEC materials
have also contributed to the increase in the knowledge on population.
The tremendous wealth of knowledge that exists on
population, and the multitude of user groups who need information
call for well developed systems, tools and technologies for
collecting, retrieving, processing and repackaging of information for
dissemination to the right users at the right time.
Information systems in the subregion
For the past decade, countries in the subregion have been
responding to the need for systems to facilitate the collection,
processing and dissemination of information by setting up information
services in all forms--from a mere collection or a library to
documentation centres and clearing houses and information centres.
In this subregion, the UNFPA/CST, the Population Information Network
(POPIN) of ESCAP and the UNESCO Clearing House on Population
Education have assisted the countries in setting up information
services.
Countries in the subregion are at different stages of
development in this area. For example, China, Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam are
comparatively at the more advanced stage, though within this group,
standards and quality vary. National population information networks
have been established under the assistance of Regional POPIN, ESCAP.
The networks have been in existence for over a decade; some funded
by UNFPA and others by their Governments. Almost all of these
population information centres are located at the premier
organization coordinating the national population programmes, e.g.
National Family Planning Coordinating Board (Indonesia), State Family
Planning Commission (China), Commission on Population (Philippines),
Ministry of Public Health (Thailand), and National Committee for
Population and Family Planning (Viet Nam). In addition to these
POPIN centres, several mini libraries have also been created in
places in the same countries implementing population programmes, such
as the Ministry of Education, Demographic and Statistical Offices,
Population Research and Training Centres, universities and research
institutions.
Countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Mongolia, and DPR
Korea are at the initial stage of information service development.
One year ago, the DPR of Korea with financial support from UNFPA
started to set up a Population Information Centre at the Grand
People's Study House, considered the largest centre of information
resources and education/training activities in the country. The other
countries have set up, with UNFPA assistance, small libraries and
documentation centres as part and parcel of a mother project . For
example, mini-libraries are located at the Institute of Maternal and
Child Health under the birth spacing projects in both Lao PDR and
Cambodia; and in Mongolia, they are located at the University of
Mongolia under the population teaching and research project and at
the Ministry of Health under the reproductive health project.
State-of-the-art and lessons learned
Almost all of the relatively more advanced seven countries
which have set up population information networks (POPIN) have
attained self-reliance in their operations and funding (except for
Viet Nam). They have set up the infrastructure and systematized their
operations. Their staff members range from 20 to 80 (librarians,
information specialists and writers comprise around 30 percent of the
entire staff while the rest are demographers and researchers). Most
of their staff members have training ranging from basic skills in
information processing to more advanced information operations.
Their level of computerization varies. China POPIN has the
most comprehensive application of computers ranging from mailing
list, acquisitions, circulation, bibliographic information storage
and retrieval, book catalogue, SDI, full text retrieval database and
database of multimedia products, CD-ROM information retrieval. The
rest focus only on bibliographic information storage and retrieval,
mailing lists, word processing and circulation.
All of the Centres provide a range of information services
from enquiry/reference, abstracting. information repackaging,
photocopying services, literature searches, current awareness
service, inter-library loans, to document distribution service,
provision of training and user education and translation service.
Information products also range from accessions lists,
bibliographies, newsletters to translation, directories, policy
briefs, data sheets and monographs.
Apart from the national population information centres set
up by POPIN, various agencies implementing population projects have
a built in component of small reference centres on specific subject
area primarily to support the specialized information needs of
clientele in their respective programme area. While some of them
like the Lao PDR Birth Spacing Project Documentation Centre and the
Vietnamese Population Documentation Centre at the National Economics
University have managed to organize themselves in a short time and
provide information services, many of the countries have not
developed to an effective level.
Constraints that countries have experienced in the
establishment of centres include:
(i ) lack of commitment and support by leaders and
managers;
(ii) lack of adequate human resources for managing the
centres;
(iii) lack of training on information handling techniques
and skills; and
(iv) lack of financial.
Problems and bottlenecks
Assessment and evaluations of the existing population
information centres indicate that several problems and bottlenecks
exist in the operations of information services in the subregion.
These are summarized as follows:
(A) Information networking
The population field has diversified and has become
multidisciplinary. And yet a number of the more advanced population
information centres tend to network vertically (i.e. from the central
level down to their own branches at regional or provincial levels).
Other sectoral areas of population such as health, education,
environment, agriculture, employment, etc. tend to be underserved.
An analysis of target clientele of these centres showed that the
centres tended to serve mainly their own in-house users,
policymakers, academic and research clients (e.g. teachers,
demographers, and students). Other users at the practitioner level
such as the development workers, the medical personnel, service
providers, extension workers, motivators, trainers, project staff,
etc. constitute minor recipients of information.
In addition to these national POPIN centres, some agencies
which are implementing population programmes have also set up mini
libraries or documentation centres, resulting in the proliferation
of small libraries which operate at various levels and independently
of one another, collecting, producing and disseminating information
that are overlapping and redundant. They are also using incompatible
information-handling systems, techniques and tools that make access
to information slow, if not cumbersome. Intersectoral information
sharing and exchange is found to be weak and limited due to many
reasons.
(B) Repackaging information
While most of the centres are producing information
products, these tend to be the þinformation on informationþ type such
as accessions lists, bibliographies, directories, inventories,
abstracts and reprints. Some of these centres have gone beyond
bibliographies and directories by producing statistical datasheets,
translations, newsletters and magazines. The more sophisticated
information products such as literature reviews, case studies,
research summaries, policy compendiums, executive summaries, etc.
although reported as information products by them, have actually been
generated from their research and demographic sections or IEC
section, very rarely emanating from the Information Centre itself.
Moreover, the Centre's own information data bases in the production
of these publications have to be used fully. There is a need to
upgrade skills of information service providers in the techniques of
information analysis, synthesis and repackaging especially tapping
the special features of the desktop publishing technology.
The issue of population data not being written up in more
readable forms and circulated always sticks out as a sore point in
information and documentation.
(C ) Management and provision of proactive information
services, and development of user-friendly databases
Very often, information centres are looked upon as an
appendage of an organization. Consequently, they assign an untrained
programme officer, a traditional librarian or worse a clerk to
supervise it. Small wonder that users do not get the right
information service.
Many of the existing information centres have yet to
strengthen management in assessing users' profile and information
needs, providing proactive information services, operating an
information network and developing user-friendly databases. No doubt,
many countries have set up good and comprehensive collection and
computerized various kinds of databases. But the more important
issues are: Are these databases easy to access, searchable and
utilizable? Do the target clientele know about the information
services? And if they know, are they using them? How much does the
Centre know about its target clientele?
(D) Use of new information technologies
In the last few decades, there have been tremendous advances
in information technology (IT) both in terms of hardware and
software. The convergence of telecommunications, computing and
information products and mass communication has changed the way one
manages and access information. Gradually, countries in this region
have started to apply new information and telecommunication
technologies in operating their population information centres,
especially in word processing, computerizing bibliographic
information, mailing list, acquisition, circulation, accessing and
searching, development of databases, desktop publishing, on-line
communication, and programme management. Most of them are now
equipped with computers and printers and CD-ROM drives and fax. China
POPIN reports also of the use of computers in full-text storage and
retrieval and database of multimedia products.
As the ICPD noted, current information, education and
communication technologies such as interlinked telephone, television
and data transmission networks, compact disks and new multimedia
technologies, and Internet can help bridge the geographical, social
and economic gaps that currently exist in access of information
around the world. The application of IT in the development of
information services and products can help bridge the gap between the
wealth of information and the needs of users.
However, these information centres have yet to make the
transition into the use of local area network (LAN) within their own
organization and within the wide area network. Centres like the
Republic of Korea, China and Thailand have pioneered the use of e-
mail and Internet but the rest have yet to install online connection
either through e-mail, fax and Internet. In the field of population
education the Philippines has equipped their regional network members
with multimedia computers with fax and modem. However, technical
skills are lacking on how to operationalize this online networking.
There is inadequate knowledge as to what one can do with on-line
information network.
Many population information sites are now available on the
Internet through the Global POPIN programme and opportunities to
mobilize these databases by national population information centres
have yet to be fully realized.
Lessons Learned
Lesson 1: A highly centralized population information
system with only one focal point to serve the information needs of
target users and institutions from different sectors (e.g., RH/FP,
population and development, data collection, IEC and advocacy, etc.)
tend to have difficulties providing consistently in-depth and
meaningful service to its clientele. To expect one information
centre to possess complete knowledge and coverage of all sectoral
areas of population, and serve a multitude of user groups would be
stretching resources too thinly (which is already the least funded
in the population programme), resulting in unmet needs and
dissatisfaction on the part of the users.
In short, a viable information system must take into account
inter and intra-sectoral networking orchestrated by two or three sub-
network focal points (one each in the area of reproductive
health/family planning, population and development, and advocacy).
These sub-networks should operate a multi-level and intersectoral
networking both horizontal and vertical, and at national and local
levels.
Lesson 2: The setting up of a documentation centre as
a built-in component of a project document on a substantive area such
as reproductive health or population education or population research
and training has succeeded in some countries (Lao PDR- Institute of
Maternal and Child Health and Viet Nam- National Economics
University) as long as the mother project allocates not only
financial support for procurement of books and bookshelves, but
ensuring that the minimum requirements for setting up a functional
and viable system are taken into account, e.g. full support by the
institution, recruitment of full-time qualified information person
and training of staff, procurement of information equipment and
technology and allocation of funds to process, repackage and
disseminate information. On the other hand, projects which pay lip
service to it (population education documentation centres, for
example) normally witness their documentation centre die a natural
death.
Lesson 3: A Population Information Centre will bridge
the gap between the producers and users of population data if it
carries out a full programme of information repackaging. This means
recruiting a full-time writer to analyse and synthesize information,
trained not only in readable writing and analysis of technical data,
but also in the use of desktop publishing. Experiences in the
subregion have shown that turning a librarian into an information
repackager has met little success except in simple consolidation of
information, e.g. awareness type of materials.
What is probably needed now is not so much to go on
collecting more data as to put more money in the analysis,
repackaging and dissemination of available but unused information.
UNFPA should consider funding a sub-programme of systematic
research/information utilization under the information systems
development or under the new core areas.
Lesson 4: In this new era of information technology,
there is no other way but for countries to recruit qualified
information specialists to maintain and operate their information
systems. The technical information business is a client-oriented
business. Many information centres, unfortunately, take a somewhat
passive approach to client services. Training of information managers
on innovative management of information systems is an urgent task for
the CST and the country programmes to attend to. Only when an
organization looks at its information service in a serious way does
the condition for success exists. This means assigning and giving
further training to a highly qualified information specialist on
modern information services and management techniques. Provision of
proactive information is the key force. And its effectiveness depends
on regular assessment of users' information needs and easy access to
user-friendly databases.
Lesson 5: Countries have acquired new information
technologies and hardwares that have remained underutilised. When
countries acquire computer and telecommunication hardwares without
a clear rationale for their use, the end result is a disastrous waste
of resources. The acquisition of new technologies should be
accompanied by a clear strategy for their use and an intensive
training of staff members on the technical skills in
telecommunications and computer networking, the use of computer-
based multi-media and information repackaging in order to maximize
the use of such technologies. It is predicted that most of the
countries will be fully ready for electronic networking within two
to three years.
Recommendations
The setting up of a population information system in a
country should be viewed from the context of a programme approach,
serving the entire UNFPA-funded country programme rather than as an
activities related to one or several projects. This requires that
during a PRSD or a needs assessment exercise, the information aspects
should form part of the critical areas to be investigated.
Consequently, the country programme should make provision for the
setting up of a national information system rather than one or
several information/documentation services lodged in those
agencies/ministries which happened to have acknowledged their
importance.
The setting up of a framework for a coordinated population
information system (network) is proposed to organize the fragmented
information sharing practices in the countries. (See diagram.) The
steps to set up this mechanism include the following:
Step One. Review and assess the status of population
information collection, retrieval, production, dissemination and use
as well as the users of this information, including their information
requirements and preferred sources of information. What kinds of
population information/materials have been produced by whom in the
country? Are they being shared/ disseminated and used by the intended
target users? What are the users' information needs?
Step Two. Review existing status of population
information centres and libraries to assess their operations and
services. The aim is to identify institutional support; objectives;
infrastructure and facilities; staffing and staff development; types
of clientele and their information needs; information resources to
meet clients' needs; information services and products provided to
clients; computerization and application of new information
technologies; training; budget and the level of cooperation among
the various information services. The results will be used to
determine the areas that need to be developed or further
strengthened.
Step Three. Based on the information gathered from the
first two steps, prepare the national framework containing the
following components: a) Prepare matrices of information/data
providers, users and information needs under the three priority areas
of reproductive health/family planning; population and development;
and advocacy. b) Set up an integrated information network system
consisting of three inter-related information networks reflecting the
ICPD priority areas. c)Identify the institutions implementing
programmes and activities in each of the priority areas, as well as
data/information sources and users for each of the three networks.
d) Select a focal point or coordinating centre for each network and
delineate duties and responsibilities. e)Develop an inter-network
coordination mechanism or secretariat to maximize cross-network use
of information and products. f) Set up an advisory body to provide
guidance on policy matters and provide the legal framework (laws,
policies, procedures and agreements) for operation of the national
network. g) Finally, prepare a networking plan of activities, e.g.
formulation of policies, objectives and legal framework; development
of standards, protocols and procedures; exchange of information;
repackaging of information; information utilization meetings;
training; application of new information technologies; etc.
The Role of CST
In summary, countries in the East and South-East Asia
subregion are at different levels of developments in the area of
documentation and information systems and services. Countries like
Myanmar, Mongolia, DPRK, Lao PDR and Cambodia, will need intensive
assistance in setting up their information centres in support of
project development and implementation. On the other hand, the more
advanced countries still need to upgrade their capabilities to
respond to the rapid modernization and use of new information and
telecommunication technologies. They also need to lift their
capacity to a higher level of professionalism in management of
information networks.
Within this context, the CST can provide the following
assistance:
1) Review and reorient existing information systems
within the context of country programme approach.
2) Help set up information systems that support ICPD-
POA and in particular, the sub-programmes of reproductive
health/family planning, population and development and advocacy.
3) Assist in building national capability by providing
basic training, attachment and fellowships for countries with newly-
set up information systems, and by organizing more advanced courses
in information management and use of new technologies for the more
advanced countries.
4) Provide technical backstopping to countries in the
implementation of various information activities and services,
especially the use of new information technologies, and in monitoring
and evaluation.
5) Perform advocacy role on the usefulness of
population information in attaining the population and development
goals and objectives.
6) Synthesize lessons learned and regularly supply
countries with these and latest materials on information processing
techniques, systems and tools.
7) Link up the national population systems/services
with the regional and global POPIN and facilitate their participation
in POPIN activities.
ICPD-POA on Adolescents:
Youth under Threat of HIV/AIDS
"Almost one out of four young males who have had sex
experience reported having paid at least once for sex. Of these,
close to 40 percent said that they paid for sex in the past 12
months."
These findings are among the key points of the second Young
Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS II), conducted in 1994 by
the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) among
11,000 Filipino youths aged 15-24 from 14 regions of the Philippines.
The study was funded by UNFPA.
A cause for concern, according to Dr. Lita J. Domingo, a
professor at the University who took part in the study, is the
finding that the youngest age group, 15-17, had the highest
proportion (64 percent) among those who paid for sex in the past
year; and the majority of these young boys (72 percent) went to the
places that offered sex with their barkada (peer group).
Among other findings, the study found that Filipino youth are
generally aware of HIV/AIDS, and most understand how the virus is
transmitted and how it can be avoided. But many do not know that the
symptoms of HIV may not be visible (or that an infected person maybe
asymptomatic), and there are still some who believe that the dreaded
AIDS is curable.
Also, a significant proportion of the youth (17 percent)
believe that AIDS can be transmitted through mere skin contact with
an infected person. This misconception needs to be corrected, as it
may lead to discrimination against those who are HIV-infected and who
deserve compassion and the support of the community.
The survey reveals that about 10 percent of the male
population also engaged in sexually risky behaviour either by having
sex with a commercial sex worker or by engaging in casual sex.
Owing perhaps to their negative opinions about the use of
condoms and to their belief that they are not likely to get AIDS,
only a small proportion used condoms. While there seems to be a
growing awareness of the function of the condom as a protection
against sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, this has not been
translated into action by that portion of the youth who are sexually
active.
The Department of Health has launched the National AIDS
Prevention and Control Programme, which includes among its activities
a campaign for safe sex through the use of condoms.
Finding of this study underscore the need to support the
Health Department's campaign, considering the very low level of
condom use among those at risk of AIDS. But perhaps an even more
effective way to protect the youth from the disease is to impart the
value of responsible sex to the great majority of the youth who have
not had any sexual experience.
The slogan made popular by the then Health Secretary, now
Senator Juan Flavier, seems appropriate towards this end. It
revolves around three basic concepts represented by three letters,
ABC --- that is, þAbstainþ; if you can't abstain, þBe Faithfulþ; and
if not, use a þCondomþ.
For the unmarried youth, emphasis should be given to the
first of these concepts through proper value inculcation by parents,
teachers, Church leaders and other influential persons.
Furthermore, there is need to have a deeper understanding of
the motivations that drive the young to have sex before marriage, to
engage in commercial sex or to be sexually involved with more than
one person.
Only with a fuller understanding of the youth's needs and
drives, including their sexuality, will programmes for the youth be
effective in helping them avoid serious consequences, such as AIDS,
and to help them realize their greatest potentials.
Changing structure and composition of the CST
The 1996 CST is emerging with a new look as a result of
concerted effort to implement the Executive Director's
instructions that:
1. The CSTs should be substantially strengthened in
the area of "Reproductive health, including family
planning and sexual health (RH/FP)".
2. More women advisers should be recruited to improve
the gender balance in the CSTs.
3. A wider geographical balance should be effected in
terms of new appointments.
The number of advisers working directly in the RH/FP area
is increased to seven from four, i.e. more than one-half of the
total number of CST Advisers. This will give the Team the
required capacity to meet the increasing demands by countries for
technical support on RH/FP programmes.
The CST Bangkok has moved towards an ideal gender balance:
six women advisers (See p. ___ on new Advisers.) and six male
advisers in the Team.
In terms of the advisers' nationalities, the geographical
distribution of the CST has also significantly improved. The
current incumbent advisers and new appointees are drawn from
Bangladesh (1), India (2), Malaysia (1), Pakistan (1), the
Netherlands (1), Turkey (1), the Philippines (2) and USA (3).
Moving on
Iqbal Alam, CST Adviser on Reproductive Health and Family
Planning Management Information Systems, has left the CST in July
1996 to assume his new post as Specialist in Survey Methodology,
at the Statistics Division, United Nations, in New York, beginning
August 1996.
Prior to his joining the CST, Mr. Alam was Demographic
Adviser to the Pakistan Census Commission (1995) and served in the
Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) as Chief of
Research in Demography (1981-1983). In 1983, Mr. Alam joined ESCAP
as Senior Project Expert and was appointed as ESCAP Regional Adviser
to CST in 1992.
Mr. Alam had assisted Member and Associate Members States in
project formulation, organizing national training programmes,
undertaking population/family planning/health surveys and policy
research, developing RH/FP programme monitoring and evaluation
methodologies, and designing Management Information Systems. He had
also organized several international seminars and workshops in his
area of specialisation.
Mr. Ghazi Farooq, CST Director, and members of the Team wish
Mr. Alam good luck and success in his new assignment.
Strengthening Gender Perspective in the Team
Ms. Sultana Alam joined the CST for East and South-East Asia
in July 1996 as Regional Adviser on Women, Population and
Development.
Ms. Alam has her Ph.D. in Communication from the University
of Illinois, Illinois, USA and Master of Arts in English Literature
from University of Dhaka.
Before joining the CST, Ms. Alam was the GPD Adviser in CST
for the Pacific Countries and has carried out studies/projects which
focused on the effects of the shift to a cash economy, urbanization,
migration, poverty and changes in traditional cultural values on
marital stability, inter-generation conflict, the quality of social
relations and environmental degradation.
Possessing over 20 years of experience in gender and
development programmes, Ms. Alam has close familiarity with gender
and population issues and their implications for development
programmes.
Her areas of expertise include training and development of
training materials, GPD advocacy, analyses of the impacts of mass
media on gender relations, GPD needs assessment, project formulation
and evaluation. Her strength lies in being able to translate
abstract GPD concepts into everyday concerns and stimulate the search
for practical solutions.
Highlights of her experience with international agencies
include: managing a population IEC project in Malawi which focussed
on the effect of the transition to a cash economy, migration and the
introduction of the modern mass media on the workloads of women,
marital stability, and inter-generational conflicts (1989-91);
conducting research studies on the emergence and problems of female
headed households among landless groups in Bangladesh (1985);
developing a case study of a NGO in for empowering landless women
(and men) in the rural areas of Bangladesh (1985); assisting in the
formulation of an agricultural project for women in Zimbabwe (1992);
assessing the impact of violence on women in South Africa (1993);
evaluating a large textile project involving the participation of
women in Laos (1984); and assessing GPD programme needs in Myanmar
(1995). Ms. Alam has also taught at colleges and universities in the
United States.
As a member of the CST, Ms. Alam will provide assistance to
countries in the subregion in formulating, backstopping, monitoring
and evaluating programmes and activities dealing with gender,
population and development.
RH Training and Curriculum Development Adviser joins the CST
Dr. Suman Mehta joined the CST for East and South-East Asia
in August 1996 as Adviser on Reproductive Health Training and
Curriculum Development.
Dr. Mehta is an obstetrician gynaecologist and has Dr. PH in
Reproductive Health from the School of Hygiene and Public Health,
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA (1986) and Msc in Demography
and Epidemiology from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,
United Kingdom (1979).
Before joining the CST, Dr. Mehta was working with the
Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood Programme, Family Health Division
of WHO where she was responsible for administering the research
component of WHO's Safe Motherhood Programme. Prior to this post,
Dr. Mehta was a staff member in UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special
Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human
Development (HRP), as a Medical Officer in the task Force on
Epidemiological Research in Reproductive Health where she contributed
towards the global efforts aimed at improving the reproductive health
of women and as Area Manager for Asia and the Pacific where she
guided countries to strengthen their research capabilities on
reproductive health.
Dr. Mehta has almost 30 years of experience in the field of
family planning, maternal and child health and reproductive health,
starting from the field level where she worked as medical officer in
small and large hospitals located in different parts of India. As
Assistant Director-General in the Indian Council of Medical Research
in New Delhi, she also helped in coordinating the national research
in family planning and maternal and child health. She has
contributed in a significant manner in developing the multifaceted
National Programme for Research in Fertility Regulation and Maternal
Health using a mission-oriented Task Force Strategy in India.
She has written numerous scientific papers and contributed
in preparation of several technical reports and guidelines related
to contraceptive methods and maternal health. She is also a member
of several professional organizations.
As a member of the CST, Dr. Mehta will provide assistance to
countries in the subregion in the development of training programmes,
including curriculum design and evaluation in the area of
reproductive health, including family planning and sexual health.
Highlights of the Third Consultative Meeting of UNFPA
Representatives, NPOs and the CST
The third Consultative Meeting of UNFPA Representatives,
National Programme Officers, Headquarters and the Country Support
Team was held in Bangkok from 21-24 August 1996.
Participants included all Country Representatives and a
selected number of National Programme Officers (NPOs) in East and
South-East Asia subregion (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, DPRK, Lao PDR,
Myanmar, Mongolia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam),
Mr. Ghazi Farooq, CST Director and CST members. The UNFPA
Headquarters was represented by Mr. M. Nizamuddin, Chief of Asia and
Pacific Division, Ms. Amy Munthe-Kaas, Chief of East and South-East
Asia Branch, APD, Mr. Jurgen Sacklowski, Director of Planning and
Coordination Division and Ms. Catherine Pierce, Deputy Director and
Chief, Population Data, Policy and Research Branch.
In the midst of many changes and developments in UNFPA
programming approach and strategies, the Meeting this year provided
comprehensive enlightenment to both the CST members and the Country
Representatives and NPOs on new guidelines and policies taken up by
UNFPA.
Based on the new UNFPA programme priorities and future
directions, the Meeting discussed the evolving role of the CST as
well as how best to assist in national capacity building.
Existing practices and new guidelines were also reviewed and
discussed on the PRSD activities and new UNFPA resource allocation
scheme, focusing on what technical support is required in
backstopping the three categories of countries.
To report on post-ICPD follow-ups by countries, the Country
Representatives and NPOs presented the major shifts and changes that
have occurred in response to the ICPD-POA.
Several substantive sessions were also organized to
synthesize the experiences of the CST and Field Offices on the issues
of collaboration with NGOs, population and development strategies,
advocacy and reproductive health. Discussions dealt with new
modalities of addressing these new concerns.
The revised TSS guidelines were reviewed for updating in the
light of changes in country requirements; the CST's role was looked
into in the preparation of country strategy note (CSN) and Common
Country Assessment and other operational issues were also discussed.
The details of the conclusions and recommendations of this
Meeting will be published in a report to be distributed in a few
weeks.
CST Newsline
Highlights of Country Eevents and the CST
Cambodia
The Adviser on Population Information and Documentation
visited Cambodia from 26 May to 5 June 1996, to participate in the
National Seminar on the Conceptualization of Population Education as
a resource person .
Purpose of seminar, attended by 32 officials from various
departments under the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports and
other ministries and NGOs, was to expose the participants to the
rationale and importance of implementing a population education
programme in Cambodia (See photo.) It enabled the participants to
formulate the definition, set of goals and objectives of population
education for the formal school system of the country consistent with
the education and national development goals.
As it was the first time a population education was being
introduced in Cambodia, the Adviser on Population Information and
Documentation presented various population education programmes
carried out by 21 countries in Asia and the Pacific and shared with
the participants experiences and lessons learned by countries in this
region.
In the area of reproductive health, the Adviser on RH/FP
Programme Design and Development, Adviser on RH/FP, and Adviser on
RH/FP Logistics Systems Management undertook a joint mission from 20
June to 6 July to assist the Ministry of Health in developing a
reproductive health programme under the new UNFPA Country Programme.
The reproductive health objectives set by the new UNFPA Country
Programme included integrated quality reproductive health services
on a regular and sustainable basis, in all the functional health
centres at primary health level, in all provincial capitals, enabling
at least 20 percent of the couples to use modern contraceptive
methods and 80 percent of couples to be aware of the availability of
modern contraceptives.
DPR of Korea
The Adviser on Population Information and Documentation
undertook a mission to Pyongyang from 9-20 June to review the
progress of the project DRK/95/P13 (Support to the Establishment of
a Population Information Centre) and to provide technical assistance
in various population information operations. She also conducted
training for the staff of Grand People's Study House.
Indonesia
From 31 March to 22 April 1996, six CST Advisers undertook
a joint mission to Indonesia to assist BKKBN and the UNFPA Field
Office in project development and formulation. The following
projects proposed were completed:
* Strengthening the Management Information System
(MIS) for Reproductive Health/Family Planning.
* Strengthening the Capabilities of Central Bureau of
Statistics (BPS) and Ministry of Health (MOH) in
Analysis of Gender and RH/FP- related Data.
* Promotion of the Demand Fulfilment Approach in
Indonesia Family Planning Programme.
* Strengthening Capabilities of Religious NGOs in IEC
and Service Delivery of RH/FP.
* Strengthening Capabilities of NGOs in Providing
Quality RH/FP Services.
* Strengthening Quality of Care Procedures in Family
Planning and Reproductive Health.
* Strengthening Quality of Care in FP/RH Services
Through Continued Medical Education.
* Strengthening Counselling Services in FP Programmes.
* Strengthening the Service Delivery for Reproductive
Health Among the Urban Poor.
* Strengthening Counselling Services for Families on
Adolescents and Youths.
* Decentralized Information, Education and
Communication in Support of Reproductive Health
Programme.
* Strengthening Gender, Population and Development
Capacity in three Women's Study Centres.
* Pilot Project on Gender Staff Training.
The Adviser on RH/FP Programme Design and Development
returned to Jakarta on 30 April to 7 May 1996 to assist the BKKBN and
NGOs in preparing a project document on þStrengthening Capabilities
of NGOs in Providing Quality RH/FP Servicesþ, while the Adviser on
Population Communication returned from 15-22 June 1996 to finalize
"Strengthening Quality of IEC Services in Support of Decentralized
IEC Management and Intervention through Research-based IEC
Initiatives" and to assist the International Planned Parenthood
Association of Indonesia in formulating a new project on
"Strengthening Strategies to Improve Adolescent Reproductive Health
through Materials Development".
Malaysia
The Adviser on RH/FP Programme Design and Development visited
Malaysia from 25-30 March 1996 to provide technical backstopping to
the projects MAL/93/P06-Strengthening Service Delivery and Innovative
Programmes on Family Life Development and Family Planning;
MAL/93/P05- Research for Utilization of Private and Commercial
Sectors in Family Planning; and MAL/92/P01: Strategic Plan for the
Implementation of Population Policy.
The Adviser also held discussions with the Director-General
of the National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB) on
the Strategic Plan for the Implementation of the National Population
Policy (MAL/92/P01). He provided technical inputs in the preparation
of the Chapter on Research, Development and Technology for the
Strategic Plan, the National Programme of Action on Population and
Development as a follow-up of ICPD Programme of Action.
From 25 June - 2 July, the Adviser on RH/MIS visited Malaysia
to provide technical backstopping to the Department of Statistics
(DOS) on the UNFPA-supported project MAL/93/P07- Improving
Demographic Statistics in Malaysia.
The Director of CST and Adviser on Population Policies and
Development Strategies undertook a joint mission to Kuala Lumpur from
22-26 July 1996 to assist the National Population and Family
Development Board in developing plans for its proposed restructuring.
They had the opportunity to meet very high-level persons in most of
the concerned agencies and put up good arguments regarding
restructuring, roles and functions, location, etc. of the Board. The
mission was also a useful learning experience in that the Malaysian
example can serve as a useful model to other countries for the
reorientation of family planning organizations to cover broader
concerns of RH and family development (as part of social development)
in line with the ICPD recommendations. The post-ICPD shift in the
development paradigm has to be matched by a corresponding shift in
the "institutional" paradigm.
Mongolia
The Adviser on Population Data Processing and Data-base
Management, and Adviser on RH/MIS visited Mongolia from 22 April -
4 May 1996 under the project MON/92/P04: Establishment of a Training
Centre; and MON/92/P03: Data Collection National Population Census.
During their mission, they assisted the State Statistical Office
(SSO) in reviewing the project document "Support to the State
Statistical Office of Mongolia for Conducting the Population Census
of 1999"; and assisted the State Centre for Civil Registration and
Information (CRO) in reviewing the draft project proposal for
strengthening of the CRO. They also assisted the Mongolian National
University in organizing a training workshop on the use of ISSA at
the Population Teaching and Research Center (PTRC), and in the
preparation of the Family Planning Survey.
The SSO is in the process of planning the next census,
tentatively set for January 1999. A draft project proposal and a
report on "Recommendations on the Technical Requirements for Planning
and Implementation the 1999 Population and Housing Census of
Mongolia" were prepared. The two documents together identify the
planning process, data collection and data processing activities the
SSO will have to undertake to successfully conduct the 1999 census.
In connection with project MON/93/P01: Strengthening MCH/FP
Programme in Mongolia, the Adviser on Population Communication,
visited Mongolia from 29 April - 31 May 1996 to conduct a 1-week
workshop for high school student editors on newsletter design and
publication for adolescents.
The Adviser on Population Communication also participated in
a 3-week Programme Review and Strategy Development (PRSD) mission.
The PRSD mission took place from 9-31 May. The aim was to prepare a
framework for a national population programme. The PRSD Team
consisted of Mr. K.S. Seetharam, Adviser on Population Policies and
Development, CST Kathmandu, the Team Leader. He was assisted by Mr.
Bruce Campell, Adviser of a UNFPA-supported project on Reproductive
Health and Family Planning in Kathmandu, who was responsible for the
RH section, and the Adviser on Population Communication responsible
for the Advocacy and IEC section.
Myanmar
The Adviser on Population Policies and Development Strategies
and the Adviser on RH/FP undertook a joint mission to Myanmar from
16 April - 1 May 1996 to participate in a UNFPA Programme Mission.
Under the project MYA/95/P22: Strengthening of Birth Spacing
Programme, the Adviser on RH/MIS and Adviser on RH/FP Programme
Design and Development undertook a joint mission from 22-29 May 1996
to assist the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Project
Director in reviewing the work plan and project budget, and assisted
in conducting the 2-day Induction Workshop.
An induction workshop was organized to explain the various
components of the project and clarify implementation issues. In the
Induction Workshop of MYA/95/P02, the five major components of
project : RH/FP Training and Service, MIS Fertility and Health
Survey, Maternal Mortality, Study, and IEC/Advocacy were explained
to the participants and project team members. The CST Advisers
discussed the implementation strategies and emphasized the integrated
programme approach for greater cost-effective and quality RH/FP
quality outputs. The mission assisted the team members to develop an
integrated operational plans for various project activities.
In the area of Logistics and Management, the Adviser on RH/FP
Logistics Systems Management visited Myanmar from 22 to 29 July 1996
to assist UNFPA Country Office in reviewing of the logistics system
for health and family planning commodities and supplies.
Philippines
The Adviser on Population Information and Documentation
visited Philippines from 26 June to 6 July 1996 to serve as main
trainer in the training of the Regional and Central Population
Education Programme staff on Population Education Documentation and
Information Networking. The Adviser also provided follow-up job
training to the Chief Documentation Specialist in the Population
Education Programme.
The Adviser on RH/FP Programme Design and Development
undertook a mission to Philippine from 21 to 27 July 1996 to discuss
with the National Statistics Office staff and relevant government
agencies regarding project document and assist in finalizing the
project document PHI/96/P01: Strengthening the National Statistics
Office.
Republic of Korea
An International Symposium on Population and Development
Policies in low fertility countries will be organized by the Korea
Institute of Health and Social affairs (KIHASA) with financial
support from UNFPA and the Government of the Republic of Korea.
Tentatively, the 5-day symposium will be held in Seoul during March-
April 1997. The Adviser on RH/MIS and the Adviser on RH/FP Programme
Design and Development undertook a mission to Rep. of Korea from 3
to 11 June 1996 to design and prepare the project document for UNFPA
support as well as finalizing the new Korean Population Policy for
publication.
The new population policy had been approved by the Cabinet
on 7 June 1996. The policy document provides a broader framework and
future directions for the approved population policy.
The Adviser on RH/MIS returned to the Republic of Korea on
4 to 6 July 1996 to participate in the launching of the 1996 State
of World Population which was jointly organized by Planned Parenthood
Federation of Korea (PPFK) and the UNFPA.
Viet Nam
The Adviser on Population Communication undertook a mission
to Hanoi from 24 June to 13 July 1996 to assist the
VIE/94/P01(Population Education) in preparing the subcontracts for
the development of radio and television materials for media use. He
reviewed the evaluation report of the Institute of Early Childhood
Studies (IECS) on the training of commune-based motivators and IEC
campaigns. He also provided technical assistance to six IEC projects
(IEC coordination, Women's Union, Youth Union, media training, Trade
Union and Peasant Union/Fatherland Front) in planning and conducting
the final evaluation of these IEC projects. [See related story.]
In the area of RH/FP management information system, the
Adviser on RH/MIS visited Viet Nam from 17-23 July 1996 to assist the
Ministry of Health (MOH) in implementing the New RH/FP Management
Information System. A new recording and reporting system has been
developed and experiments were carried out in one district each of
Thien Giang and Thai Binh Provinces in June 1996. The new MIS system
has now been extended to all the districts of the two provinces.
Advocating for Viet Nam
A Legacy of an Improved Population Programme
To celebrate the World Population Day (11 July), the
Committee for Science and Education of the Communist Party and the
Department of Science and Education of Viet Nam Television organized
an exhibit of 100 paintings in downtown Hanoi.
The exhibition on population, housing and environment was
opened by Ms. Linda Demers, UNFPA Representative (see photo), and
Prof. Phan Tet Dong, Vice Chairperson of the Education Department of
the Central Party Committee.
Theme of the exhibit was: þWhere We Live Nowþ. Some 20,000
entries were received from children and young artists throughout the
country.
The opening of the exhibition was one of the last official
acts of Ms. Demers who was wrapping up her duties in Viet Nam and
preparing to move to her new assignment in Addis Ababa as the new
UNFPA Representative for Ethiopia. She left Viet Nam towards the end
of July 1996.
Ms. Demers came to Viet Nam at the start of the Fourth
Country Programme in 1992. She leaves behind a legacy of close
collaboration with the CST for East and South-East Asia and the first
country to try out many of the modalities of technical backstopping.
The concept of joint missions to avail of the multi-disciplinary
expertise available in the CST was started in Viet Nam and given full
play. She will be remembered by the CST for her open mindedness,
programme approach and her daring attitude to innovate. She leaves
behind a newly approved Fifth Country Programme (1997-2000).
Before she joined UNFPA, Ms. Demers was a senior population
specialist at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
in Hull, Canada (1986-1991). She had also served as a senior
analyst/demographer in the Department of the Secretary of State,
Canada, (1982-1986) and did a stint as UN technical adviser in
demography, Department of Technical Cooperation for Development, UN,
in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Africa (1979-1981).
Ms. Demers will be replaced by Mr. Erik Palstra from the
Netherlands. He is scheduled to report to his new assignment in mid-
September 1996.
ICPD Follow-up:
Post ICPD Shifts in Policy and Programme Direction in Thailand
Since the September 1994 ICPD, Thailand has organized a
series of events beginning with a seminar on þThailand's Commitment
to ICPD Programme of Actionþ conducted by the Institute of Population
and Social Research, Mahidol University in collaboration with UNFPA
on 28 October 1994 in Bangkok. The speakers were representatives
from the Thai delegation who attended the ICPD in Cairo, UNFPA
Country Director, UNFPA/CST Director, and ESCAP.
This event was attended by about 80 participants with
representatives from government agencies, NGOs, UN agencies, and
media representatives.
The next major event was a meeting organized by the
Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health on 28 November 1994
in Bangkok, which considered population and development programme in
Thailand in the next decade. All major government agencies and NGOs
working in population and development took part in discussing their
plan of action in relation to the ICPD-POA. A Thai version of the
summary of the ICPD-POA was distributed at the meeting.
Since 1994 several other activities have taken place in
support of the 1994 ICPD-POA.
Developments in þReproductive Rights and Reproductive Healthþ in
Thailand
Prior to ICPD, most issues pertaining reproductive health and
rights, particularly those concerning family planning and maternal
and child health (MCH), have been successfully addressed. Still, the
Government saw that it was important to further improve the situation
by emphasizing the quality of services and greater accessibility to
services, particularly for the disadvantaged population groups.
Programmes for adolescents and health for the elderly, STDs,
HIV/AIDS, and reproductive tract infections needed more development
to promote and strengthen effective mechanism and strategy.
The initiatives in the areas of menopause and infertility are
now in the phase when service models and data collection are being
carried out. Restructuring of the country's health promotion system
to using a holistic approach with people throughout the life cycle
has already been done.
On reproductive rights, a sensitive issue for some countries,
Thai men and women enjoy similar rights in reproduction.
Thai women are free to decide to have no more children and
choose to undergo sterilization procedure without permission of
their husbands or other members of their family. A man can request
for a vasectomy service even after having only one child i.e. if the
matter is already discussed and agreed upon in the family. After the
ICPD, the Department of Health gave more attention to male
participation in reproductive health sphere.
Many health promotion programmes have been designed to
include activities that involve both men and women.
Several major workshops and seminars at different levels
related to reproductive rights and reproductive health were organized
in Thailand. Some examples include:
* A regional workshop on þwomen, family and AIDS Preventionþ
organized by the Women's Studies Center, Faculty of Social
Sciences, Chiang Mai University, from 4-7 July 1995. UNFPA
supported the publication of the workshop's proceedings.
* A national meeting funded by UNFPA on þUnwanted Pregnancies:
Challenges for Health Servicesþ was organized in Bangkok on
7 December 1995 by the Graduate School of Srinakharinwirot
University. Over 150 participants from concerned government
agencies, NGOs and media representatives participated.
Several recommendations were made for policy makers to
review and improve the status of women's health especially
on unwanted pregnancies and safe abortion.
* A national seminar on þWomen and Healthþ was organized on
13-14 June 1996 in Bangkok by the Women and Health Network,
Mahidol University. The seminar was attended by 150
participants from government agencies, NGOs and media
representatives who came to share their views on
reproductive rights and reproductive health issues in
Thailand.
* A regional workshop on "The Social Science and Reproductive
Health" was organized at Kanchanaburi on 10-12 July 1996 by
the Health Social Sciences Programme, Faculty of Social
Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University. Participating
countries included Thailand, Malaysia, China, Indonesia,
Viet Nam, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal,
Bangladesh, and India. The objectives of the workshop were:
1) to analyse the situation and provide the social science
theoretical framework concerning the status of sexual and
reproductive health issues in Asia, and 2) to develop
community-based approaches and strategies to solve
identified sexual and reproductive health problems. Topics
in the workshop included adolescent sexual health as well as
domestic violence against women.
Two Important Post-ICPD Changes in Thailand
Two significant post-ICPD changes in Thailand to date
include, among others:
1. Extending basic education to 9 years
As a follow-up to the World Conference on Education for All,
held in Jomtien, Thailand in 1990 and the 1994 ICPD held in Cairo,
the Royal Thai Government has placed great emphasis on education.
A major outcome is in terms of the 8th National Economic and Social
Development Plan (1997-2001). This is a people-centred human
development plan formulated locally/nationally from the grassroots
up to the policy level. The Plan has emphasized increasing the
quality of education at all levels, particularly extending compulsory
basic education from 6 years to 9 years for all children, and
gradually extend compulsory education to 12 years in future.
2. Expanding primary health care programme in rural areas
The Government through the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)
has planned (in the new Plan) to accelerate the extension of primary
health care programme in rural areas. MoPH organized a national
seminar on "Thailand's Commitment to ICPD Programme of Action" in
October 1994 and committed to improve the role and strategy of
reproductive health issues including STDs, and HIV/AIDS as part of
Primary Health Care Programme to cover rural areas under the new
Plan. The Government allocated a budget of US$62.3 million in 1995
for HIV/AIDS prevention and control for government agencies and NGOs
to carry out the 5-Year National AIDS Prevention and Control Plans.
Under the new Plan, coverage of population and development
aspects include:
* To promote FP in target groups with high fertility rate,
e.g. hill tribe population, Thai groups of different
cultural background in Southern Thailand, Thai-speaking
Khmer population in lower Northeastern Region by improving
and providing free services related to FP that are
compatible to their cultures, traditions, and attitudes.
* To improve the quality of the different FP methods to enable
people to receive the best and safe services.
* To campaign on the benefits of having a small family (or
appropriate size) through appropriate IEC strategies for
different target groups.
* To support economic activities for the development of
society, improvement of quality of life, and self-sufficient
community.
* To promote FP to ensure healthy babies and improve quality
of life.
* To promote the development of agricultural industry in the
rural areas to provide jobs for the rural people.
* To give priority to develop rural areas to slow down rural-
urban migration.
* To develop small and medium cities to absorb the expansion
of urban population and urban development, and reduce future
urban problems.
* To upgrade the local administration capabilities to solve
urban environmental problems.
* To decentralize administrative authority to the local level.
* To improve the population base data for use in planning
urban projects.
* To expand social services, such as education, public health,
and basic services.
* To train and develop skills of rural people to meet the
needs of the labour market and build factories that would
provide financial resources.
South-South Cooperation
The success of the Thailand National Family Planning
Programme in terms of achieving declines in fertility as well as
mortality, and high contraceptive prevalence is well known.
Thailand is a country which has not only recognized the need
for international cooperation amongst developing countries, but made
budgetary allocations for the Thai International Cooperation
Programme (TICP) on the principle of Technical Cooperation among
Developing Countries (TCDC) for offering technical cooperation to
developing countries in the fields of agriculture, education and
health. Subsequently, the scope of TICP was expanded to include
population and development. The Royal Government of Thailand
allocates an annual budget outlay specifically for promoting such
cooperation through providing training fellowships in Thailand for
the neighbouring countries and for sending Thai experts to these
countries to assist them.
In the context of the recent UNFPA support for promoting
South-South Cooperation, Thailand has been recognized as one of the
four Centres of Excellence under UNFPA funded project "INT/96/P03:
Inter-regional Project on South-South Cooperation: Support to Centres
of Excellence in Population, Family Planning/Reproductive Health".
The other three are Indonesia, Mexico and Tunisia. The purpose of
this inter-regional project INT/96/P03 is to strengthen training and
technical assistance capacities of selected Thai institutions and
organizations and for establishing a mechanism for Thailand to act
as a "provider" country in the field of reproductive health/family
planning (RH/FP) more systematically and more effectively taking full
advantage or the existing facilities and TICP allocations. Thailand
is eager to share with other developing countries its expertise and
technical support in the following areas:
* Population Policy Formulation
* Capacity Building
* Management and Administration
* Information, Education and Communication
* Population, Reproductive health, Maternal and child
Health and Family Planning
* Working with Special Population Groups
* Demographic, Social Science and Biological Training
* HIV/AIDS Education and Services
* Income-generating, Community Participation and
Women's Development Project