Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network (EARHN) Meeting

PPD Africa Regional Office organized the Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network (EARHN) Meeting that was held in Uganda, Kampala from December 2 – 6, 2008. The main objective of the meeting was to revise the EARHN Strategic Plan 2001 - 2005, gain stakeholder support and develop a coalition to work towards increased collaboration among Eastern Africa countries in the areas of reproductive health, population and development. The meeting was also organized to seek and lay a strong foundation for long lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships and collaborating arrangements among the collaborating countries and regional networks in addressing RH, population and development issues and also to provide an opportunity for enlivening and fortifying regional networks in the African Region.

Participants of the EARHN Meeting

The meeting was attended by representatives from Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana, as well as Rwanda and Burundi who have recently joined the East African Community. The EARHN regional meeting was also attended the PPD Executive Director, Mr. Harry Jooseery, and delegates from the AU, IPPF, DSW, Population Action International and the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition.

During the meeting useful feedback was received from the participants to incorporate into the revised Strategic Plan for the EARHN. Productive group discussions and presentations on enriching a robust and implementable Strategic Plan based on the SWOT analysis were made. Presentations on advocacy for RH drawing from various experiences were made and shared to increase the skills among participants of initiatives to do effective advocacy. The key outcome of the report was a revised Strategic Plan which takes into consideration the significant developments including best practices and challenges in the fields of reproductive health, population and development.

2nd Annual Research Conference on Population, RH and Economic Development

The Regional Director and Programme Officer, PPD Africa Regional Office attended the 2nd Annual Research Conference on Population, RH and Economic Development in Arusha, Tanzania between December 8 – 9, 2007. The objectives of the conference were to learn about on-going and planned researches in the fields of population and RH, identify gaps in evidence and methods that inhibit development of sound policies, discuss examples of research influences on Population/FPRH policies and share information about Hewlett’s Population Reference Bureau (PRB) other new research funding programs. There were lots of very strong and interesting papers made. The Regional Director was a speaker on the session that interfaces researchers with policy makers: “What Policy Makers Need to Know about Population: Charting a Path for Population within the Finance Ministry, Opportunities and Challenges” The paper was very well received.

Union of African Population Studies (UAPS) Conference

The Regional Director and Programme Officer attended the Union of African Population Studies (UAPS) Conference, December 10 – 14, 2007. UAPS is a pan-African non profit scientific organization whose main aim is to promote the scientific study of population in Africa. The meeting brought together eminent international researchers in the field of population, reproductive health and development. The Regional Director made a presentation at session attended by Members of Parliament, researchers and the media. He underscored the role played by PPD in promoting high level policy dialogue for addressing population and reproductive health concerns. The session was chaired by Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Planning, Economy and Empowerment, Hon. Gaudence Kayombo. The important roles researchers can make in easing the work of Parliamentarians clearly came out and were appreciated.

Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, PPD Regional Director for Africa, making a presentation at a session that brought together MPs, Researchers and the Media. On his immediate left, Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Planning, Economy and Empowerment, Hon Gaudence Kayombo who chaired the session.

During this conference, the Regional Director and the Programme Officer took advantage of the presence of so many experts, colleagues and friends in the field of SRHR, population and development to market PPD and bring to the attention of some of these people the important work PPD does and its untapped potential. A side meeting was also held with Tanzania's Minister of Planning, Hon. Dr. Juma Ngasongwa regarding Tanzania and its membership to PPD. The meeting was also attended by Ms Florence Mwanri of the Planning Commission of Tanzania as well as Dr. Catherine Sanga, the Head of RH Division, Ministry of Health of Tanzania. After the Regional Director’s presentation on PPD and the work being done in PPD Africa Regional Office, Minister Ngasongwa indicated that Tanzania is interested in joining.

PPD Fellowships at Cairo Demographic Centre

CDC increased 5 to 10 fellowships to PPD each year starting from 2008

PPD in collaboration with Cairo Demographic Center (CDC) has been strengthening demographic and related family planning and reproductive health expertise of the professionals from Member States through One-year International Fellowships Diploma Courses every year since 1999 at CDC’s own premises in Cairo, Egypt. Since early 1999, CDC has been awarding 5 fellowships to PPD for the professionals of its Member States to pursue the studies at CDC. On return from CDC after successful completion of their courses, the fellows have been contributing substantially to family planning and reproductive health programs of their respective countries through their enhanced professional performances and training more demographers in their own institutions and agencies.

Last year, with special request from PPD Executive Director Mr. Harry Jooseery to CDC Director Prof. Dr. A M Abdelghany, CDC increased the fellowships from 5 to 10 to be awarded continually each year to PPD beginning 2008.

Accordingly, 10 fellows from seven PPD Member States namely Ms. Fahmida Alam and Dr. Shahin Akter from Bangladesh, Mr. Hamang B.L. MANJANG and Mr Wally Hadre Ndow from Gambia, Dr. Fatima Yousef Arabeyat from Jordan, Mr. Ladji Binoko Sidibe from Mali, Mrs. Plernta Ethisan Phanthong from Thailand, Mr Dhikusooka Gyaviira and Mr. Albert Franco Odongo from Uganda and Mr. Ghamdan Mohammed Mofarreh from Yemen have already been enrolled at CDC to start their course of studies at CDC from early January 2008.