celebration ofworldpopulationdayinangolain2013

30 NOVEMBER 2013
UNFPA - BECAUSE EVERYONE COUNTS
The Newsletter of the UNFPA Country Office in Angola
CELEBRATION OF WORLD POPULATION DAY IN ANGOLA IN 2013
In line with this year’s global theme of “Adolescent Pregnancy”, Angola
adopted the theme of “Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy”.
To commemorate the World Population Day, key government ministries - the
Ministry of Family and Women´s Promotion (MINFAMU), the Ministry of
Youths and Sports (MINJUD), the Ministry of Health (MINSA), the Ministry of
Education (MED) and the Ministry of Social Welfare and Reintegration
(MINARS) - together with UNFPA Office in Angola organized five main
activities in Luanda: 1) The main event at the Tropico Hotel, on 11 July;
2) Debates on national radio and television stations; 3) Lectures in three high
schools; 4) Roundtable discussions at 12 primary and secondary schools; and
5) Radio interviews by Dr. Kourtoum Nacro, UNFPA Representative in Angola.
1) The main event at the Tropico Hotel, on 11 July.
The event, which was widely covered by the Angolan media,
brought together critical stakeholders under one roof in an
effort to raise awareness about the challenging issues related
to adolescent pregnancy. One of the key issues discussed was
that of providing reproductive health services to adolescents,
the roles of the schools – the system and administration in
general – and of families in promoting the health and
wellbeing of the Angolan youths. The wide involvement of
the government (from 4 ministries) at the highest level
(Secretary of State or Ministers) indicated the level of
ownership and appreciation of the event by the Government.
This also indicates the high visibility of UNFPA in Angola.
Some 200 people participated in the event, including
government officials, members of the diplomatic
community, other UN agencies, UNFPA Angola staff and
Implementing Partners, academics and students. Most
importantly, the presence and active participation of the
young people themselves were pivotal for the success of the
event. Keynote speakers were Mr. João Baptista Kussumua,
Minister of Social Welfare and Reintegration, and
Dr. Kourtoum Nacro, UNFPA
Representative in Angola.
Mr. João Baptista Kussumua,
Minister of Social Welfare and
Reintegration, during his
keynote speech at the Tropico
Hotel in Luanda.
Mr. Kussumua, in his opening
remarks said that Adolescence is a
complex transition from the
standpoint of physical and
psychological development. "It is a
challenging period with doubts
and concerns that need monitoring
by all who work with
adolescents," said, Mr. Kussumua.
He stressed that the
consequences
that
Posters created by UNFPA Office
arise from early
in Angola for World Population
Day in 2013.
pregnancy
are
striking
and
determine the future World Population Day, celebrated
of
adolescents: annually on July 11, aims to
“dropping out of increase people's awareness on
population issues, such as family
school, abortions and planning and gender equality,
early marriages are poverty, maternal health and
examples of the human rights. UNFPA supports
difficulties faced by governments, non-governmental
pregnant girls." The organizations, institutions and
Minister of Social individuals in organizing various
Welfare
and awareness creation activities to
Reintegration
also celebrate this annual event in
bringing these issues to global
said that it is
attention.
important to reflect
on the role of the
family because parents are not always prepared to respond to
the affliction of the children. "In Angola, there are few
studies on adolescent pregnancy" said the Minister. He noted
that adolescent pregnancy causes
concerns and it is necessary to
analyze the key issues and
underlying causes.
Dr. Kourtoum Nacro, UNFPA
Representative in Angola,
addressing participants on
World Population Day at the
Tropico Hotel in Luanda.
Dr. Kourtoum Nacro, UNFPA
Representative
in
Angola,
reminded the audience that 26
years ago, on 11 July 1987,
approximately the date at which
the world reached 5 billion, the
United
Nations
General
Assembly recommended that this
Page 2
day should be observed every year as the “World Population
Day.” She then quoted the message of UNFPA Executive
Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, translated into
Portuguese, the official language of Angola. An excerpt from
his message reads: “Adolescent pregnancy is not just a health issue,
it is a development issue. It is deeply rooted in poverty, gender
inequality, violence, child and forced marriage, power imbalances
between adolescent girls and their male partners, lack of education,
and the failure of systems and institutions to protect their rights. To
bring these issues to global attention, this year's World Population
Day is focusing on adolescent pregnancy. Breaking the cycle of
adolescent pregnancy requires commitment from nations,
communities and individuals in both developed and developing
countries to invest in adolescent girls. Government should enact and
enforce national laws that raise the age of marriage to 18 and
should promote community-base efforts that support girls' rights and
prevent child marriage and its consequences.”
Dr. Nacro concluded that it is necessary to strengthen
partnerships and give special attention to adolescents and
youth since they are the future generation, the leaders of
tomorrow: "it is important to create specific policies and
strategies for young people to have a healthy and responsible
life."
Immediately following
Short Play by a group of actors
from CAJ depicting the
consequences of adolescent
pregnancy and the importance of
using quality reproductive health
care, including family planning,
services and information.
Dr. Nacro´s speech, participants
were treated to a “theatrical
play” by young actors from the
Centro de Apoio aos Jovens/
Youth Support Centre (CAJ),
highlighting the consequences
of adolescent pregnancy, such
as: high risks for health
problems than girls who delay
child bearing; risk of mortality
for both mother and child; risk
of developing obstetric fistula;
stillbirths and risk of unsafe
abortions; school drop-outs;
dependency on parents for
financial
and
emotional
CAJ is an NGO, mostly supported by UNFPA, which
mobilizes young people in the provinces of Luanda and
Benguela, on issues related to reproductive health,
including family planning, and stressing the prevention
of HIV infection and of other Sexually Transmitted
Infections. Since 2012, through CAJ, in addition to
supporting the provision of adolescent RH services in
youth friendly health centres, UNFPA Angola has been
taking quality RH/FP services and information, including
Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV, to the
underserved population, including adolescent girls and
boys, through outreach programmes in the most
popular markets of Luanda. In 2013, UNFPA Angola has
taken these services to the Tocoista Church, which is the
largest church after the Catholic Church.
Angola at a Glance
Angola´s population was estimated to be 20.2 million in 2012
(2012 State of the World Population), of which 67 per cent is
under the age of 25. The high total fertility rate (6.4 children
per woman) and low modern contraceptive prevalence rate (12.8
per cent in 2009) contribute to the high annual population
growth rate of 2.9 per cent. According to the State of the World
Population 2012, Adolescent Fertility Rate (Births per 1,000
Women Aged 15-19) in Angola was 165 in 2010. Data from
the MICS (2003) reveal that at age 18, about one-third of
Angolan girls have already given birth and at age 20, more
than two-thirds are already mothers.
support, especially if the father is not ready for and denies to
take responsibility of the child; risk of suffering from physical
and psychological problems. The play also served to promote
awareness and prevention of adolescent pregnancy through
access to quality reproductive health care, including family
planning, services and information, and to empower young
women to think and make informed choices.
The theatrical play was followed by a roundtable discussion
led by Dr. Isabel Massocolo, Director General of CAJ and
former Director of the Provincial Directorate of Health of
Luanda, where issues related to adolescent pregnancy, such
as reproductive health and family planning, affecting
adolescents, were discussed. The roundtable brought
together, Dr. Rosa Bessa de Campos, current Director of the
Provincial Directorate of Health of Luanda, and Dr. João
Batista
Lukombo
Nzatuzola,
professor
in
Sociology/Demography at the Faculty of Economics of
Agostinho Neto University/Universidade Agostinho Neto. The
discussions explored topics such as adolescent sexuality and
reproductive health in Angola, and issues concerning the
legal and policy environment that affect adolescent
reproductive health. Discussions revolved around the notion
that adolescent sexual behaviour is one of the causes of early
pregnancy, since there are sexual relationships among
adolescents without the provision of comprehensive
information about sex.
During her presentation, Dr. Bessa de Campos said that in
Angola, those aged 18 years and over are considered to be
adults and are responsible for their actions. She added that,
of the total number of births at the Lucrecia Paim Maternal
Hospital in 2012, 18% were by adolescent mothers. Lucrécia
Paim Maternity Hospital, located in Luanda, the capital city
of Angola, is the largest National Maternity Hospital which
also serves as a teaching unit for Reproductive
Health/Gynecology and Obstetrics.
During the debate session, many participants expressed the
need for young males to be more engaged in adolescent
pregnancy discussions since they are part of this, but too
often the discussions about teenage pregnancy centre only
around young women.
A young adolescent student said that it is everyone´s
responsibility – including parents and religious leaders - to
do something about adolescent pregnancy, not just the
Page 3
Government. She called upon the Ministry of Education to
take similar discussions on
adolescent sexuality and the
prevention of adolescent
pregnancy to schools and
communities to sensitize
teachers, students and
parents on this growing
social issue.
A young student addressing the
panel during the debate session
on World Population Day at the
Tropico Hotel in Luanda.
Another student suggested
that Angola should embark
on a number of new
strategies aimed at dealing
with issues such as re-integrating pregnant adolescents back
into the school system and create school-based and schoollinked programmes for pregnant and parenting adolescents,
thus allowing girls to be placed in a special school after
delivering their babies.
The main event ended with a cocktail where executives and
participants, including students, professors, UNFPA Angola
staff and its implementing partners, had the opportunity to
mingle and socialize.
2) Debates on national radio and television stations.
On 10 July, debate sessions were held on two popular
national radio stations – Expresso 10-12 and Geração Viva –
under the theme “Clinical Aspects on Adolescent Pregnancy
Prevention” by representatives from CAJ and National
Directorate of Public Health (DNSP). Additional debates on
this year´s theme, by representatives from CAJ and the
Augusto Ngangula Maternity Unit in Luanda, were aired live
on Angola National Television Braodcasting 2/Televisão
Pública de Angola 2 (TPA2).
3) Lectures in three high schools.
In its effort to raise awareness about the challenging issues
related to adolescent pregnancy, UNFPA Office in Angola
organized various lectures, from 12 to 19 July, in
collaboration with the DNSP and the MED, on this year´s
theme, at three high schools in Luanda – Instituto Médio de
From left: Ministry of Family and Women Affairs consultant, Ms. Suzana
Simão; Social Welfare and Reintegration Minister, Mr. João Baptista
Kussuma; UNFPA Representative in Angola, Dr. Kourtoum Nacro; Youth and
Sports Minister, Mr. Gonçalves Muandumba, on World Population Day at
the Tropico Hotel in Luanda.
Econômia de Luanda, Nzinga Mbandi and Instituto Médio de
Gestão. Three thousands one hundred and twenty seven
(3,127) students between the ages of 13 and 19 years
attended the lectures.
4) Roundtable discussions in 12 primary and
secondary schools.
Additionally, the UNFPA Office in Angola, in partnership
with the DNSP and the Provincial Directorate of Health and
Education in Luanda,
organized roundtable
discussions
on
Adolescent Pregnancy,
in 12 primary and
secondary schools –
Escola
3005,
Complexo Escolar do
Cazenga
(3049),
Instituto
Médio
Primary school students of the Escola
Primária/Primary School # 2047, in
Simione
Mucune,
Cazenga, Maianga, during the debate
Escola 3004, Escola
session on Adolescent Pregnancy, on
3003, Escola 3006,
27 November 2013.
Escola
Augusto
N´gangula, Colégio Redentor, Complexo 21 de Janeiro,
E.F.M. Luanda, Escola Nº 3030, e Colégio Gregório Semedo
- in the Municipality of Cazenga, district of Maianga,
Luanda. The roundtable discussions were conducted by
representatives from CEFFA, Centro de Estudo e Formação
para o Futuro de Angola, from 13 to 29 November, based on
a guide prepared by the UNFPA Office in Angola. Two
thousand and eight (2,008) students between the ages of 10
to 15 attended the roundtable discussions.
5) Radio interviews by Dr. Kourtoum Nacro, UNFPA
Representative in Angola.
As done every year, during the weeks leading to the World
Population Day, as well as on 11 July, Dr. Nacro was
interviewed, on issues related to the theme “Adolescent
Pregnancy”, by the National Radio of Angola/ Radio Nacional
de Angola. The interviews were conducted in three languages
- English, French and Portuguese.
Human statue depicting adolescent pregnancy - a young mother pregnant
with her second child and her companion refusing to accept responsibility – by
CAJ on World Population Day at the Tropico Hotel in Luanda.
Page 4
UNFPA Angola staff on World Population Day at the Tropico Hotel in Luanda.
For more information about the work of the UNFPA Country Office in Angola, please refer to the attached Country Office Programme Information Fact Sheet.
UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund
Rua Major Kanhangulo, 197, 5º Floor
Luanda, Angola
Tel: +244 226 430 890; Fax: +244 226 430 899
www.unfpa.org
UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND
UNFPA - because everyone counts.
Resident Representative : Dr. Kourtoum Nacro
Angola Country Office Programme
Information Fact Sheet
Mission Statement
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every
woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population
data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe,
every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.
Partners:
United Nations Agencies:
1. FAO
2. UNAIDS
3. UNDP
4. UNICEF
5. WHO
GOVERNMENT:
1. Ministry of Education
2. Ministry of Family and of
Women Promotion
3. Ministry of Health
4. Ministry of Planning
5. Ministry of Social Welfare
6. Ministry of Youth and Sports
7. National Institute of Statistics
(INE)
8. Provincial Governments
9. University Agostinho Neto
NGOs:
1. Ajuda ao Desenvolvimento
Povo para Povo (ADPP)
2. Centro Informazione e
Educazione allo Sviluppo (CIES)
3.
(ODP)
4. Youth Support Centre (CAJ)
OTHERS:
1. United States Agency for
International Development
(USAID)
2. World Bank
Provinces of Intervention:
1. Bengo
2. Benguela
4. Cabinda
5. Huambo
6
7. Kuando Kubango
8. Kunene
9. Kwanza Norte
10. Kwanza Sul
11. Luanda
12. Lunda Norte
13. Lunda Sul
14. Malange
15. Moxico
16. Namibe
17. Uige
18. Zaire
UNFPA Office in Angola
UN Building, 5° floor
Rua Major Kanhangulo, 197
Luanda, Angola
Tel.: +244 226 430890
Fax : +244 226 430892
www.unfpa.org
UNFPA's cooperation with the Government of Angola started in 1978. The 6th Cooperation Program
of UNFPA for Angola (2009–2013), currently in progress, contributes to the following United
Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) outcomes:
(i) Developed institutional capacity for evidence-based planning, formulation of policies, and
equality of women;
(ii) Increased access to integrated quality social services; and
(iii) Strengthened support of national response towards universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention.
UNFPA priority areas for action in Angola:
1.
Reproductive Health, including Family Planning
This component focuses on the following:
(i) The integration of HIV prevention into reproductive health programmes;
(ii) The improvement in the quality of skilled assistance at birth, emergency obstetric care (EMOC)
and basic neonatal care to women;
(iii) The increase in the availability of information on reproductive health services for youths and
adolescents; and
(iv) The strengthening of the National technical and institutional capacity in order to implement a
reproductive health commodity procurement and logistics and management system.
Through this component, UNFPA contributed to the establishment of the first reference center for
treatment and training on how to treat obstetric fistula in Angola, located in the municipality of
Damba, Uíge Province. Also, UNFPA is the largest donor of contraceptives to the Government of
Angola.
2. Population and Development
The Population and Development component aims to:
(i) Improve the availability of, access to and use of up-to-date and reliable socio-demographic
data, disaggregated by age and sex, at national, sectoral and decentralized levels; and
(ii) Strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of targeted national institutions, non governmental organizations (NGOs), youth networks and implementing partners at national,
provincial and municipal levels to incorporate population issues in development policies and
programmes, including in emergency situations.
Through this component, UNFPA has taken a prominent role in supporting the Angolan Government
in organizing its 2014 Population and Housing Census and the development of a national population
policy.
3. Gender Equality
This component aims to:
(i) Increase participation of government institutions, women’s associations and relevant networks
to support and advocate the integration of gender issues into national and sectoral policy
frameworks, in order to achieve progress towards gender equality and women’s
empowerment at national and decentralized levels; and
(ii) Increase engagement of communities, the mass media, men, youth and women’s networks in
preventing and combating sexual and gender-based violence.
Through this component, UNFPA supports the Government in the development of a National Policy
on Gender Equality and the dissemination of the Law Against Domestic Violence, which UNFPA
contributed to developing.
4. UNFPA humanitarian responses to assist vulnerable people in emergency situations.
In the implementation framework in the response to humanitarian emergency, UNFPA has actively
supported the Kunene province, which in recent years has been affected by floods, and the Uige province,
to the Angolans citizens who returned from DRC. In the area of Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS
prevention, several types of kits were distributed; reproductive health containing contraceptives; treatment
for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs); condoms; post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, including kits for
sexual assault and midwives in the case of births to women with HIV; and personal hygiene kits.
Version 22/08/2013
Map of Angola