Nigeria polio campaign gains momentum

Indian student helps others resist child marriage
Anjali Burman, a 21-year-old resident of the remote Indian village of Malda, has taken up the fight against child marriage, forming a small community group that works to prevent the forced marriages of girls under the age of 18. The youngster faced the prospect of marriage at the age of 15 and now helps others by raising awareness and bringing efforts to stop cases to officials.

New Zealand rejects concerns on child marriage
Current laws in New Zealand are sufficient to discourage child marriage, the country’s government has told UNICEF, despite reports of the forced marriage of a 17-year-old Pakistani girl, and appeals for help by girls as young as 13 and 14. Justice Minister Judith Collins said the government would continue to educate ethnic communities about existing law.

Shot at Life chief talks vaccination progress
Vaccines can help prevent many of the 1.7 million deaths of children every year from preventable diseases such as pneumonia, Peg Willingham, executive director of the United Nations Foundation program Shot at Life, says in this interview. Willingham recently traveled to Honduras where an ambitious vaccination program targeting 99% of the country’s children is helping slash child-mortality rates.

Cote d’Ivoire pulls plug on free health care experiment
Cote d’Ivoire has scaled back its public health program to cover only women and young children as theft and mismanagement contribute to rapidly rising costs. “As long as women and children continue to receive care we are satisfied, because they are among the most vulnerable,” said Louis Vigneault-Dubois, head of communications for UNICEF in the country.

Calvin: Family-planning access is a key priority
Increasing access to family-planning services for women around the world remains an integral element to improving women’s health and achieving Millennium Development Goals related to maternal mortality, writes Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation. 

Breast cancer awareness is still lagging
Despite the efforts of global health community to draw attention to and raise awareness of chronic noncommunicable disease, breast cancer remains widely misunderstood and under-diagnosed in developing countries. Health care professionals diagnose more than 1 million cases annually, and the disease claims about a half-million lives each year. 

 Yemen faces malnutrition emergency
The number of children under the age of five suffering from malnutrition across Yemen has reached 750,000, doubling in some regions over the past decade. Maria Calivis, UNICEF’s director for Middle East and North Africa, said the figure crosses the “emergency threshold” for urgent action, especially in the country’s remote areas.

So, instead of spending Thanksgiving weekend watching the Macy’s Parade, eating turkey and shopping (my usual Thanksgiving activities), I was in Amsterdam and London for meetings on fighting human trafficking. Human trafficking, or modern day slavery, is an enormous global criminal and human rights problem. It’s worth setting out the basics. “Human trafficking” is an umbrella term for the issues of forced labor, sex trafficking, bonded labor, debt bondage among migrant laborers, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child labor, child soldiers, and child sex trafficking. Human trafficking can happen anywhere, including the US. Estimates of how many people are trafficked each year vary from 2.4 million to 25 million, and it’s a business worth more than $50 billion a year. For more, see:

http://tinyurl.com/d266fy5

It’s a book that bears reading at least once, and can help all of us understand the monumental changes we’ve witnessed in the last year, and are sure to witness in the months and years to come.

President Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first democratically elected woman president and she has worked to secure peace in Liberia, promote economic and social development, and to strengthen the position of women. Leymah Gbowee courageously organized women across ethnic and religious lines to bring an end to the war in Liberia, and that story was featured in the movie “Pray the Devil Back to Hell.” Tawakkul Karman has been a leader in the struggle for women’s rights and for democracy and peace in Yemen.

War and conflict tear away the social fabric that supports women and families, creating instability. When men go to war — voluntarily or not — women are either left behind in shattered economies struggling to keep families intact or on the run from violence. Women are also often left to take on new roles that create new opportunities — think of Rosie the Riveter — which can exacerbate tensions when war ceases.

Yet, research shows that women are critical building blocks for a country post-conflict. Including women and civil society means it is more likely that agreements will hold. It is so exciting that the Nobel Committee has awarded the prize to three courageous women and in doing so, has highlighted the important role that women play in peace.

A pregnant woman in Timor-Leste looks out her window. Photo: United Nations Population Fund

In Timor-Leste women have an average of 7 children, yet in a country with birthrates so high, care for maternal and newborn health and safety is lacking. In a country were babies are far from the rarity, health problems for mother and babies are also far from rare.  Due to the lack of adequate prenatal and postnatal care many mothers not only suffer health ramifications, but so do their newborn’s, many of whom are born with health complications and birth defects.

Additionally, traditional birth practices continue to be used, thus bring harm to both mother and child.  Such practices include: Pregnant women will lie and sleep next to a fire for months with the belief that the fire’s heat will wash away all the dirt and impurities from the babies’ blood. Macu Guterres, coordinator for the National Breastfeeding Association, told the UNHCR that this practice can harm both the mother and the baby and cause the child to develop asthma.  Another belief is that the milk a mother produces immediately after birth will harm the baby if consumed, and therefore newborns are often fed a substance made with honey and water, which is believed to wash away all the dirt from the baby’s intestines and blood.

The fight for safer birth practices in the country are far from new; however, while it  sometimes appears that change is slow despite some efforts by international health organizations in the last 5 years, one must look at the country’s history and lack of infrastructure, especially regarding healthcare.   In the 1990s, the country was suffering a violent occupation from Indonesian, at that time the under-five mortality rate for children was 184 per 1,000, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the figure had  decreased significantly by 2009 to 56.

In 2004, the Health Alliance International (HAI) released their Fourth Annual Report for Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in East Timor (Timor-Leste), in which maternal mortality was estimated at 800 per 100,000 live births, infant mortality was 80-90/1000 live births, and 120 children per 1000 died before reaching age five. Additionally, the utilization of health services for any purpose in the country is also very low. Only about half of women receive any antenatal care during pregnancy, the use of a skilled birth attendant is less that 20%, and fewer than 10% of births occur within a registered health facility. Nonetheless, while maternal and newborn care is low, the country continues to hold on to a significantly high fertility rate of 7.8%.  It was no shock that the country’s level of accessing any family planning methods remains dramatically low at 9%.

Following their critical assessment and report, HAI established 2 Birth Friendly Facility (BFF), which are designed like  a traditional Timorese house and are located in close proximity to a health facility.  The BFF’s were established to “provide a comfortable, culturally acceptable place for women to come to deliver their babies with a skilled birth attendant, typically a midwife.”  However, while the evaluation of the facilities by all actors using and working in the BFF’s was very positive, there was still a lack of will by a vast majority to utilize a BFF in preparation for the birth itself.  HAI has since made efforts to “promote and train on creating a birth plan and the importance of having a skilled birth attendant at delivery,” much of which has been pushed via educational videos (HAI).

A 41-year-old mother of eight, whose newborn has an imperforate anus (the passage is closed) and appears to have Down’s syndrome. “The health workers told me before that it was dangerous to my health to have many children and that it would be difficult to feed all of them, but I didn’t agree.” Now, after her latest birth, she has accepted contraception.

However she is not alone and young mothers are also fighting against many methods, such as Domingas dos Santos, 25, is four months pregnant; she already has children of eight months, two, four and five years old. “I’ve been told about birth control and family planning but I’m not interested,” Dos Santos says. (IRIN).

Last month, the Timor-Leste government took a big step forward in the Strategic Development Plan 2011 – 2030, which was drafted by the Prime Minister’s office.  The plan states that by 2015 approximately two-thirds of pregnant women  in the country are to receive regular pre-natal check-ups and have the assistance of a government-trained health worker when they give birth.

Therefore it appears that the biggest barrier between mothers and safer birth practices is not only access to health facilities, but also a lack of education and understanding about maternal health, safe birth practices, and family planning.  Increased awareness and access to both facilities and birth control methods are a must if one is to see the standard of heath for both mothers and their babies to improve, as well as to ensuring that families are better able to care and feed for themselves.  However, many women are reluctant to utilize birth control methods and seek alternative practices such as birth spacing (according to USAID studies, birth spacing, the practice of regulating the intervals between pregnancies, can significantly reduce both maternal and infant health risks). Additionally, medical assistance, the training of midwives, training of hygiene methods for at home deliveries is a must to bridge the gap to safer birth practices.

Yemeni woman voting, credit to Freedom House

Freedom House’s 2010 edition of Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa is out and a great resource. It analyzes the status of women in the region country by country. As Queen Noor has said, “It is vital that MENA countries more urgently recognize that the status of women is the key determinant to the development of their societies. This report provides important data to encourage reform in women’s rights.” For more, see http://stepheniefoster.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=300&Itemid=54

- it is a crime to be in the state without documentation (of citizenship or legal immigration status)
- the police must question anyone who they are suspicious is in the state illegally
- it is against the law to hire or transport day laborers who are undocumented
- the public can bring lawsuits against the government if they believe that the immigration law is not being enforced

While the issue of undocumented immigration in the United States is a concern, these measures contradict some of the country’s core values. First, people living in the US are not required to carry identification at all times, something that is and has been required in many other countries (e.g. South Africa under apartheid.) Second, the Arizona law makes profiling much more likely, whether based on race, ethnicity or a person’s accent. This is clearly a backwards step.

What is happening in response? Major rallies and vigils against the law have been held in Arizona, and one police officer in Tucson, Martin Escobar, filed a lawsuit to challenge its provisions. Eric Holder, the US Attorney General, may also oppose the law (remember, immigration regulation is the jurisdiction of the federal government) . On the other hand, polls show that 60% of US voters are in favor of a law enabling police to question suspected illegal immigrants.

Yesterday legislators in Arizona made some modifications to the law. As reported on National Public Radio, these included a restriction that race not be used as the only reason for police to require paperwork. At the same time, the police are required to check immigration status even when responding to small infractions like responding to a complaint about loud music at a party. (There are already cases of deportation taking place when undocumented immigrants failed to properly stop at a traffic light or jaywalked.)

What appears to be a positive outcome of Governor Brewer’s action? The issue of immigration is once again on the public’s radar screen. Congress is discussing plans for legislation, and the media is now focusing its 24-hour news cycle on the issue. Regardless of one’s position, most can agree that the current system is not working – there is the need for immigration reform.

A very interesting trend, covered in an article within the Guardian, describes the emergence of what are referred to as “mega-regions”. The author explains that these “may stretch hundreds of kilometres across countries and be home to more than 100 million people”. Examples include Hong Kong-Shenhzen-Guangzhou, where approximately 120 million persons live, as well as Nagoya-Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe and Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo.

The interpretation of whether this trend is positive or negative varies. On one hand these zones represent tremendous economic force. The UN-Habitat report’s co-author, Eduardo Lopez-Moreno, states that “the top 25 cities in the world account for more than half of the world’s wealth”. In addition, cities often provide better health and education opportunities than exist poorer rural areas.

On the other hand, these regions represent sprawl on a major scale. Once highways and suburban subdivisions cover formally natural areas, is there any turning back?

What implications does this have for how we think about migrants? Much urbanization results from flows of people moving from rural areas to cities. When it comes to research on displaced persons and refugees, there is now increasing focus on those that live in urban areas. This means that the common image of refugees residing in camps in the desert might be replaced by the conception of those living in slums on the outskirts of cities.

One reason that recent immigrants are less likely to participate may be lack of information about the Census, held only once each decade, and that it is a process that has not have taken place in their country of origin. Others, particularly those who are irregular and without paperwork, may fear that any personal information they submit will not remain confidential.

Yesterday the Pew Hispanic Center distributed the results of a telephone survey showing that messaging about the Census had reached many Hispanics across the country. Interestingly, 78% of those who were US-born said they planned to return the Census form, as opposed to 91% of who were born overseas. Does this show any differences about levels of suspicion, such that those in the country longer become less trustful of the government? Or by this measure, should immigrants be considered more interested in being engaged citizens?

Two weeks ago, nationwide rallies for immigration reform demonstrated a continuing interest in and need to address undocumented persons living in the United States. The Census attempts to tally their presence. The next year or two will show whether they will become more than just a number.

In recent years, as securing on land-borders tightens, there has been an increase in attempted entry using boats. In mid-January one such vessel capsized near San Diego, leading to the death of a Mexican man and a Guatemalan woman. It serves as a reminder of the dangerous passage that migrants often pursue. In 2005, nearly 100 Ecuadorans drowned when their boat sunk and they remained trapped in the hold. They were on their way to Guatemala, en route to the United States.

Migrant drownings are not only an issue in the Western Hemisphere. Each year thousands of migrants from African countries attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea, in the hope of arriving in Spain and Italy. In March of last year, more than 200 immigrants died when a boat departing Libya and bound for Italy or Malta overturned.

For some, moving to a new country is a secure process that involves a visa and a plane flight. Many others, however, risk their lives to migrate, perhaps demonstrating a degree of desperation in their current circumstances. If they do arrive safely they often connect with other family members or friends, but they can also remain undocumented in a society where they do not speak the language. They may have arrived via a rickety boat, but the struggle to stay afloat and make a new life has really just begun.

A total of approximately 100,000 Haitians in the US are covered, including 30,000 who are in the process of deportation. TPS, however, does not protect criminals or persons who would otherwise be forbidden from seeking asylum.

Countries given Temporary Protected Status over the past two decades include El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan, for reasons of internal war or natural disaster. Eligibility is usually given in 12 to 18 month time periods, and is often extended – Nicaraguans and Honduras have been covered since 1999 (Hurricane Mitch struck in 1998), and Salvadorans since 2001 (after a series of earthquakes).

To be protected by TPS, a person typically must register on a yearly basis. This may raise the question of what happens once the status is revoked. Will they then be deported? This has not happened to date. As a result, critics of TPS say that it serves as amnesty, and that those protected now are not later deported; they argue that protection cannot be called “temporary” if it ends up becoming permanent.

Proponents of TPS for Haitians explain that those it shields will be able to work in the US and send funds back to family and friends in Haiti. As a previous posting explained, the remittances sent by this diaspora will serve a key factor in rebuilding the country.

More information on TPS can be found at the website of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, through this link.

The film’s 3-D technology is impressive, but as far as the plot is concerned, there are really no major surprises. It is a struggle between good and bad – those who wish to understand and explore the new culture, and those who view it as backward and worthless in comparison to the planet’s mineral wealth. Ultimately, with teamwork and fortitude, the forces of good prevail, and Pandora is saved.

While the movie may cause some viewers to imagine future possibilities (i.e. the concept of lifelike avatars controlled by the human mind), it leads one to consider the past more deeply. The plotline is like that which already occurred with European exploration of the Western Hemisphere, except for one major difference – in reality the outsiders prevailed and destroyed most of the local cultures.

As we well, know, from the first voyages of Columbus to the “New World” until the 1880s, millions of indigenous died as the result of disease and war. Often, it was an attitude of superiority mixed with greed that led to the callous approach of the European visitors-turned-conquerors.

Migration can lead to new opportunities. It also has its darker side, including genocide, enslavement and colonization.

For a sobering perspective on these issues, check out the following books. Admittedly they are written with a particular bias – to reveal the voices of the oppressed, as opposed to the victor who typically records history – but they are worth the read/review:

A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn (first published in 1980)

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown (first published in 1970)

Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, by Eduardo Galeano (first published in 1973)