AUICK First 2005 Workshop

With the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Kobe City Government, AUICK held the "First 2005 Workshop on Adlescent Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS" in Kobe from 27 June to 7 July 2005. AUICK invited 9 perticipants from 9 Associated Cities. Concurrently, the Seventh International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) was being held in Kobe. Taking advantages of this opportunity, the participants attended some of the ICAAP programs.

BACKGROUND

Reproductive health is one of the important components of Programme of Action (POA) which was agreed on in 1994 at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and defined in chapter VII 7.2-7.3 as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes". The chapter further elaborates that "reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so." Implicit in this last condition are the right of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health-care services that will enable women to go through pregnancy and childbirth safely and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant.

Reproductive health includes a comprehensive approach to reproductive health issues including family planning, maternal and child health, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, which has been dealt separately by vertically divided administrative functions.

Reproductive health eludes many of the world's people because of such factors as: inadequate levels of knowledge about human sexuality and inappropriate or poor-quality reproductive health information and services; the prevalence of high-risk sexual behavior; discriminatory social practices; negative attitudes towards women and girls; and the limited power many women and girls have over their sexual and reproductive lives. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of their lack of information and access to relevant services in most countries. 500,000 women or more have died every year by factors that originated in pregnancy and birth. Strikingly, 99 percent of these cases occurred in developing countries.

Reproductive health is not only a fundamental right for all people, but also contributes to micro level problem solving, such as population and poverty issues. Confronting reproductive health issues will contribute to meeting most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) directly or indirectly. It contributes directly to meeting the three health related goals: "Goal 4: Reduce child mortality", "Goal 5: Improve maternal health", "Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases" and synergistically effects the following two "Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education" and "Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women". Voluntary family planning rests on a number of experts' recognition of help to meet the "Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger". In addition, it also contributes to meeting "Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability" by solving the population issues. (Partly extracted by UNFPA Website)

AIM

The workshop focused on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention especially for the youth who are socially vulnerable. It was designed for invited city officials to increase their basic knowledge on reproductive health and to develop concrete task plans for possible implementation upon return to their respective cities. Accordingly it had not only formal presentations, case studies but discussion on current issues and challenges of AUICK Associated Cities (AACs) related to population and development.

PARTICIPANTS

The Workshop targeted the most senior or the second senior officials of public health departments in nine selected Asian Cities: Chittagong (Bangladesh), Weihai (China), Chennai (India), Surabaya (Indonesia), Kuantan (Malaysia), Faisalabad (Pakistan), Olongapo (Philippines), Khon Kaen (Thailand), Danang (Vietnam). (In alphabetical order of country's name)

Dr. Salim Akhter Chowdhury
Health Officer, Chittagong City Corporation, Bangladesh
Mr. Fan Kaimin
Assistant to the Director General of Health Bureau, Disease Control Section, Weihai Municipality Health Bureau, China
Dr. Kandasamy Manivasan
Joint Commissioner (Health) & Project Director, Health & District Family Welfare Bureau/Chennai Corporation AIDS Prevention and Control Society, Corporation of Chennai, India
Dr. Esty Martiana Rachmie
Head, Coordinating Board of Municipal Family Planning, Surabaya City, Indonesia
Mr. Mohamad Zainudin Idris
Director, Health and Cleanliness Control Department, Kuantan Municipal Council, Malaysia
Dr. Aslam Pervaiz
Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management, Thesil Municipal Administration, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Dr. Nilda Ticar Montoya
Rural Health Physician, Social Hygiene Clinic, City Heath Department, Olongapo Medical Society, Olongapo City, Philippines
Ms. Wallapa Prangthawat
Public Health Technical Officer, Technical Supporting Section, Khon Kaen Provincial Health Office, Thailand
Dr. Kim Anh Thi Doan Vo
Vice Director, Department of Health, Danang People's Committee, Vietnam

Interpreter
Ms. Hong Thi Bui
Program Assistant, UNFPA Vietnam (Dr. Kim's interpreter)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Tuesday, 28 June

The workshop was launched by Mr. Kazutoshi Sasayama, Chairman of AUICK after an orientation session by Mr. Nobuyuki Morimoto, Deputy Executive Director. The Chairman welcomed the participants to the City of Kobe and thanked them for making the long journey from their home countries. He said that this workshop would focus on the Adolescent Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS. He then outlined the goals and work plan of the workshop. He hoped that each city would be able to benefit from this Workshop in order to provide necessary services for promotion of adolescent reproductive health, including protection against HIV/AIDS.

As the first resource person, Dr. Haryono Suyono made a presentation, entitled "Demographic Transition and Empowerment of Human Resources: Strategies for Population Policies and Programs." (Click here for details)

In the afternoon session, Dr. Haryono made another on the "Best Practice of Adolescent Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS in Surabaya." (Click here for details.)

This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Chuanchom Sakondhavat, Professor of Khon Kaen University, and Dr. Supat Sinawat, Assistant Professor of Khon Kaen University on the "Best Practice of Adolescent Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS in Khon Kaen." (Click here for details)

Wednesday, 29 June

In the morning session, Dr. Hirofumi Ando explained how to prepare an effective action plan to improve reproductive health and tackle HIV/AIDS in each participant's city. (Click here for details)

Then, each of the participants presented his/her city report. (Click here for details)

In the evening, students of the Kobe City College of Nursing presented on their peer counseling activities to the workshop participants as an example of young people's involvement in promoting reproductive health and awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS issues. (Click here for details)

Thursday, 30 June

The morning session was used by the participants to prepare their action plans and for a preliminary meeting for the Open Forum (UNFPA Seminar).

In the afternoon there was a public forum on "Sound Mind and Sound Body: Let us think and learn and have a wonderful adolescence." The Forum was organized jointly by UNFPA and AUICK and opened to public. The Workshop participants participated as panelists, and engaged in a lively discussion. (Click here for details)

Friday, 1 July

In the morning session, two officials of Kobe City in charge of public health services of Kobe City made two presentations. (Please click here for further details.)

First, Mr. Hiroshi Terada, Manager of the Health Promotion and Planning Division and "Maternal and Child Health Services of Kobe" presented on the Current Situation and Challenges on the Public Health Services of Kobe.

Second, Ms. Mihoko Higasisaka, Assistant Manager of Maternal and Child Health Section, made a presentation on the Maternal and Child Health Services of Kobe.

Then the participants visited the Health Care Center of Kobe to observe four-month-old babies receiving BCG vaccinations to prevent tuberculosis.

There are about 800 babies in the ward, which has a population of 110,000. The vaccinations are provided three times a month. On this day, about 30 mothers and infants were present.

After registering, there was a group session where information presented by a nutritionist and a dentist. Then the children were measured and examined by a pediatrician. The pediatrician gave advices to parents. The babies in generally good health then receive vaccinations, and those who had health concerns at that time skipped their vaccination on this visit. That was followed by individual sessions with a nutritionist, a public health nurse and a dentist. If any specific concerns were raised, the baby would receive a follow-up exam.

Back in the Center the participants received a presentation by Dr. Hisako Takamura, Professor of School of Nursing at Jichi Medical School, on "Adolescent Health Education in Japan." (Click here for details)

After the presentations, the participants proceeded to the Kobe Portopia Hotel to attend the opening ceremony of the International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP).

Saturday, 2 July

In the morning, the participants attended the ICAAP Plenary Session, which was composed of the following presentations:

• "Asian-Pacific Overview of the HIV Epidemic and Response" by J.V.R. Prasada Rao, UNAIDS (Thailand);
• "Political Leadership" by Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Healthcare, Nutrition and Uva Wellassa Development (Sri Lanka); and
• "Community Leadership in Treatment Advocacy" by Periasamy Kousalyan. D, Coordinator of the Positive Womens Network of South India (India).

After the plenary session, the participants attended the following symposiums and Luncheon Session:

• "New Leadership - Pushing the Boundaries";
• Luncheon Session by UNFPA;
• "Beyond Tokenism: the Challenge of Making Involvement Meaningful for People Living with HIV/AIDS";
• "Decriminalization and Policy Change"

Sunday, 3 July

The morning ICAAP Plenary Session, which was again attended by the participants comprised the following presentations:

• "Drug Use and Harm Reduction in Asia and the Pacific" by Tariq Zafar, Executive Committee Chairman, Asian Harm Reduction Network (Pakistan);
• "Regional Strategies to Cope with HIV/AIDS among Mobile Populations" by Sharuna Verghis, Regional Coordinator, Caram-Asia (Malaysia); and
• "The Sex Trade in the 21st Century" by Carol Jenkins, Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (Thailand).

After the plenary session, the participants attended the following symposiums and Luncheon Session:

• ICAAP Symposium on "Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission";
• Luncheon Session by WHO;
• ICAAP Symposium on "Learn From the Success - Bridging Continents"; and
• ICAAP Symposium on "Comprehensive Approach for Care, Self-help and Community Support in the Context of ART Scale-Up".

Monday, 4 July

The morning ICAAP Plenary Session was composed of the following presentations:

• "3 by 5 Initiative: Its Progress and Challenges" by Jim Yong Kim, Director of HIV/AIDS Dept, WHO (Switzerland);
• "Sexuality Education: A Human Rights Perspective" by Sunil Pant, Blue Diamond Society (Nepal); and
• "The Critical Role for AIDS Vaccine in the comprehensive AIDS agenda; an update" by Seth Barkley, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (U.S.A.)

After the plenary session, the participants attended the ICAAP Symposium: "Promotion of Sexual Health Amongst Adolescents in and out of School".

In the afternoon, the participants visited the Kobe City Hall to pay a courtesy call on Mr. Tatsuo Yada, Mayor of Kobe. Dr. Sultan Aziz, Director of Asia and the Pacific Division, UNFPA, and Ms. Kiyoko Ikegami, Director of UNFPA Tokyo Office, who attended the ICAAP, accompanied the workshop participants.

After the courtesy call, Mr. Sultan A. Aziz gave the workshop participants valuable insights with his presentation on "Young People and HIV/AIDS in Asian Countries: Challenges and Actions." (Click here for details)

After the session with Mr. Aziz, the participants from Chittagong, Weihai and Chennai presented their action plans.

Tuesday, 5 July

Presentations of the ICAAP Plenary Session in the morning were as follows:

• "Integration of Prevention and Care" by Tim Brown, East-West Center, Hawaii University (U.S.A.);
• "Chemotherapy and AIDS: Past, Present and Future" by Hiroaki Mitsuya, Professor, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medicine (Japan); and
• "Gender Issues" by Nafsiah Mboi, Consultant of Indonesian National AIDS Committee (Indonesia).

After the ICAAP session, the participants from Surabaya, Kuantan, Faisalabad, Olongapo, Kohn Kaen and Danang each presented their action plan at the AUICK workshop.

Wednesday, 6 July

To sum up this workshop, the participants had an evaluation meeting and the participants exchanged their views frankly about the overall workshop.

At the closing ceremony, Mr. Sasayama complimented the participants for their achievements in and contributions to the workshop and handed certificates to each of them.

After enjoying a farewell luncheon hosted by AUICK Chairman Mr. Sasayama, the participants went on a brief excursion to Osaka.

REVIEW

The workshop suggested that the peer group education is one of the most useful and effective methods to promote the awareness of adolescents on protection against HIV/AIDS, although a few participants felt uncomfortable with the peer group counseling where young girls are advised to use contraceptives because it may encourage the early sexual experience among younger people. However, most of the participants found the idea of peer group education useful and they adapted it explicitly in the action plans they prepared.

The ICAAP programs which the participants attended also provided them with the latest information on HIV/AIDS from a global perspective, and all of the participants were pleased with the invaluable experience of attending an international conference.

At the end of the review session, the workshop participants were requested to inform the AUICK Secretariat about the important steps they will take to implement their plans of action. The progress made in the implementation of the action plans will be monitored when the AUICK Secretariat visits each city at a later date to assess the usefulness of the workshop. The results of the monitoring will be published in future issues of AUICK Newsletter.