  n addition to, India, Nigeria, Nepal, Mexico, and Uganda, the featured countries in
this section, there are many other WCS population projects of equal importance that have either been completed or are in process.
Zaria, Nigeria - The Rotary Foundation recently approved a $500,000 3H project for
"Childspacing and Family Health" in parts of Kaduna State of Nigeria. The program was born
out of the concern for the alarmingly high maternal prenatal and infant mortalities and morbidities prevalent in Nigeria. The objectives are to:
- Improve conditions of life through the promotion of awareness among citizens of Zaria and Suminaka about the negative effects of excessive population growth
- Reduce the rate of maternal and infant mortalities through voluntary and safe childspacing methods
- Support two hospitals with childspacing service equipment, child survival materials and training of medical and paramedical personnel to promote family and
reproductive health care
The project concept has been approved by local religious leaders and is expected to
make childspacing practices acceptable to the predominately moslem population. In this
expansion of an earlier similar project, it will be necessary to accomodate cultural values
and religious beliefs of a wider target population. A large consignment of Natural Family
Planning "Beads" will be necessary for use by people, especially those of the Catholic Christian faith who approve only of natural family planning methods.
By: Dr. Olodapo Shittu, Ahnadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria
Rotary Clubs join with the United Nations Population Fund
Las Torres Satelite/Coyoacan Clubs in District 4170 in Mexico and Los Gatos Rotary in
District 5170, USA are joining on this project. Rotary Matching Funds of $28,000 combined
with $65,000 from the UNFPA will total $93,000 for the project. The program is a small part of
a $5,100,000 4-year UNFPA project in the three states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Puebla. Objectives are:
- Literacy for women
- Reproductive Health Services
- Family Planning services
- Women's Empowerment
Mexico has 9,000,000 illiterate people, many of them indigenous indians concentrated in
the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Puebla. They are descendents of the ancient Mayans and speak ten or more regional dialects. Many are
unable to interact effectively with Spanish-speaking Mexico. In the rural, indigenous areas of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Puebla the
highest levels of female subordination and maternal-child morbidity/mortality have been recorded. This project will concentrate in the Altos highlands
of Chiapas where the the highest sociodemographic deficiencies occur in Chiapas among 28% of the total population.
- Infant mortality of 54.5/1000 live births
- Total Fertility rate of 5.3 children (unchanged in 30 years)
- Maternal mortality rate - significantly above the norm for Chiapas
- Illiteracy age 15 and over stands at 46%
- 74% speak indian languages
- The 85% rural population lives in highly scattered villages
- Very poor gender equity and equality
In Peru and in other Latin American countries, the United Nations Population Fund developed a unique approach to a very similar
challenge among indigenous indians. They use a bilingual literacy method in which symbolic drawings and a few words are taken from daily
life, called "generating words." These "generating words" contain the fundamental sounds
and symbols from which other words can be derived. Using this technique, successful "bialphabetization" literacy programs can be carried out.
By concentrating these literacy efforts on women, synergetic benefits are gained. In
addition to producing self-esteem, this program facilitates their ability to interact with the
Spanish-speaking community and contributes to gender equity. It also permits them to understand and use the concepts of Reproductive Health and Family Planning.
This proven literacy method will be applied in Chiapas. To improve gender equality the
Chiapas project will work with several local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as La Casa de la Mujer to enhance Women's Empowerment.
Rotarians in the San Cristobal de las Casas target area will be directly involved in implementing this humanitarian work. |
