UNFPA Press Release UNFPA Malawi launches State of World Population 2008 Report

Ms. Esperance Fundira, UNFPA Representative and Right Honourable Dr. Justin C. Malewezi during the launch of the 2008 State of the World’s Population Report.

Lilongwe, 12 November 2008 -UNFPA Malawi on November 12, 2008 joined the rest of the world in launching the State of World Population Report 2008 titled "Reaching Common Ground: Culture, Gender and Human Rights" in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe.

The report emphasises that culture is a central component of successful development of countries, and must be integrated into development policy and programming.

“Cultural factors are just as important as political, social and economic factors in analysing situations and developing effective strategies. They are especially critical for the successful implementation of programmes,” said Ms. Esperance Fundira, UNFPA representative in Malawi.

Ms. Fundira said for plans and strategies to succeed, people must consider the context of the interventions and listen to the public in their communities, who are the owners and agents of change. She said this approach encourages change from within.

She said such a strategy is already working in Magwaza Village, at Chitowo in Dedza. Working with the Ministry of Health and UNFPA, the Chitowo community has, in less than two years, managed to reduce maternal deaths drastically.

Ms. Fundira said this has been possible because the members of the community themselves understood that there was need for them to reduce maternal deaths in their area and they proceeded to put an end to harmful cultural practices. Culturally, pregnant women were going to traditional birth attendants to deliver and they never went for antenatal care.

Now, the Chitowo Community has various task forces on family planning and safe motherhood where they encourage pregnant mothers to go for antenatal care, monitor newborns and even set up rules to follow on hygiene and sanitation.

The community has also adopted by-laws that set limits on the role that traditional birth attendants should play. “For example, they prohibit birth attendants with no formal training from actually delivering babies and encourage them to adhere to government-set criteria about when to call for skilled attendance,” said Ms. Fundira.

Malawi’s former vice president Honourable Dr. Justin Malewezi said at the launch that he agreed with the 2008 State of World Population report that the country should find culturally sensitive approaches that respect and understand the complex intertwining relationship between culture, gender, human rights and HIV/AIDS.

“To change behaviour, we must reach people with ideas that are delivered in a way that people will easily accept, through institutions or structures that are well entrenched in the society and using memorable messages that will induce appropriate action,” said Honourable Dr. Malewezi.

He cited traditional governance structures of chiefs, marriage counselors and village gathering courtyard as some institutions and structures, which can be used to change ides and harmful cultural practices.

Ms. Fundira said it has been noted that international development actors, including NGOs, usually ignore – or marginalize - culture to their own loss - not because culture is everything, but because poverty, poor health, lack of education and conflict also contribute to destroying and undermining culture.

UNFPA has since pledged intensified support to government and other stakeholders in the quest towards reaching a common ground on culture, gender and human rights.

“With a few years to go before the Millennium Development Goals target date of 2015, there is a sense of urgency to work more effectively to reduce poverty and maternal death and to promote development. This report is a call to action to work with the culturally sensitive approach to make development cooperation more effective,” said Ms. Fundira.

For more information, contact:
Pilirani Semu-Banda on + 265 (0) 1 771 444, cell +265 5 424 765 or email semu-banda@unfpa.org