Visits to AUICK Associate Cities

As the year 2007 was the final year of the AUICK 2004-2007 project, three delegations were dispatched to AUICK Associate Cities (AACs), to monitor the progress of Action Plans made by participants of AUICK workshops between 2005 and 2007, and to assess the output of the program as a whole. The first delegation was dispatched to Kuantan, Malaysia, and Chennai, India, in June 2007 (see issue 49 of this newsletter for details). The second delegation was dispatched to Surabaya, Indonesia and Olongapo, Philippines in September 2007; and the third was to Khon Kaen, Thailand, Chittagong, Bangladesh and Danang, Vietnam, in November 2007. 

CONTENTS

1. Visit to Surabaya, Indonesia
2. Visit to Olongapo, Philippines
3. Visit to Khon Kaen, Thailand
4. Visit to Chittagong, Bangladesh
5. Visit to UNFPA Vietnam Office
6. Visit to Danang, Vietnam

1. Visit to Surabaya, Indonesia

The second AUICK delegation, comprised of Dr. Hirofumi Ando, President, Mr. Manabu Shinya, Executive Director, and Mr. Nobuyuki Morimoto, Deputy Executive Director, visited Surabaya from 9 to 12 September 2007. They were accompanied by Dr. Haryono Suyono, a member of the AUICK International Advisory Committee, and Dr. Richard Joanes Makalew, Advisor on Population and Development of UNFPA Indonesia Office.

On 10 September, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Mayor Drs. Bambang Dwi Hartono. Senior officials of the Surabaya City Government, Dr. Puruhito, the Rector of Airlangga University, and other professors also attended. Dr. Ando expressed appreciation for the support of the mayor for the activities of the 2004-2007 project. Drs. Hartono confirmed continuing collaboration with AUICK in the next term project through a strengthened partnership with the Airlangga University faculties.

The delegation held a monitoring meeting with the officials who participated in AUICK workshops between 2005 and 2007. The meeting was facilitated by Mr. Togar Arifin Silaban, Head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who attended the 2004 AUICK Associate Cities Conference, and the Second 2004 Workshop, as a representative of Surabaya City. Officials presented progress of the action plans they had formulated at AUICK workshops.

The action plan of Dr. Esty Martiana Rachmie Head of Surabaya Health Department, mobilized both schools and NGOs to address the issues of reproductive health and HIV/ AIDs. Health staff and teachers were trained in HIV issues and a peer counseling center was established for out of school adolescents.

Mr. Arthur Pinontoan, who attended the Second 2005 Workshop as head of the Education Department, was transferred, so current head Mr. Suhudi presented the action plan developed by Mr. Pinontoan.

Ms. Henny Dwi Ferita, Head of the Technical Execution Unit of the Environmental Laboratory, Environment Management Agency of Surabaya City, promoted conservation and better waste management through an education program for schools and entrepreneurs. Her plan surveyed business establishments, did pollution measurement, and trained new staff in waste measurement.

Ms. Chamidha, Head of the Division of Recovery and Improvement of Environment Quality, Environmental Protection Agency of Surabaya City formulated a plan to improve water quality through building bio-filters in sub districts and in business establishments. The technical planning is done and funds are being sought for implementation in 2008.

Ms. Wiwiek Widayati, Head of the Cooperation Division of Surabaya City Government attended the Second 2006 Workshop. Her plan draws on Indonesia’s strong community organization to provide a supportive community for the aged. It has even persuaded the country’s famous national family planning program, BKKBN, to establish a new unit for the aged.

Mr. Moch Munif, Head of Social Welfare Department, has responsibility for the welfare of the aged. He reported a successful community based model implemented in Nagagel Rejo.

On 11 September, the delegation visited the Surabaya Environmental Management Agency and had a meeting with Mr. Togar Arifin Silaban regarding the current situation and challenges of the agency.

The delegation then visited three facilities related to the Action Plans.

Adiwijayata School, where Ms. Chamidha presented environmental education.

Care home for the elderly

Pangkah Puskesmas Heatlh Care Center gave a presentation on health services for youth in the community

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2. Visit to Olongapo, Philippines

On 13 September 2007, the second AUICK delegation visited Olongapo, accompanied by Country Representative, Ms. Suneeta Mukherjee, as well as Junior Professional Officer Ms. Miriam Ciscar Blat and Provincial Programme Coordinator Ms. Dyzebel Dado.

They met with the city’s mayor, Mr. James Bong Gordon, Jr., as well as other senior city officials, before meeting participants of the AUICK workshops.

They held a monitoring meeting with the city officials in a conference room of the city building, to discuss the progress of AUICK Action Plan implementation. Mayor Gordon and senior officials also attended the meeting.

Dr. Nilda Tocar Montoya, Head of the Social Hygiene Services, City Health Department, attended the First 2005 Workshop. She established an Adolescent Reproductive Health care program. It organized classes for the city’s youth, and established a system of adolescent health centers in the rural villages around the city. It plans further outreach activities over the next year.

Mr. Randino Albina Ledesma, Officer in Charge of the Urban Basic Services Program, Office of the City Mayor, attended the Second 2006 Workshop. He made a plan to push for universal primary education, especially among the poor. It established a fund and worked out an organization to identify and assist needy families so their children would go to school and remain there.

Ms. Marivic Jadulco Nierras, Planning Officer III of the Technical Section, City Planning and Development Office, attended the First 2006 Workshop. The project formulated by her was to improve management of solid wastes in the city. However, the City’s Environmental Sanitation and Management Office had developed a similar plan, into which her plan was folded.

Mr. Fernando Moselina Magrata, Acting City Administrator and Hospital Administrator, Office of the City Administrator, attended the Second 2006 Workshop. He developed a Senior Citizen Health Care Plan with city funding and the cooperation of the local James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital. This has now identified and funded health care for some 9,500 senior citizens, or 88% of the total number.

Mr. Jaime L. MendozaDeputy City Administrator of the Office of the City Mayor, attended the First 2007 Workshop. He presented his project to restore the Kalalake-Pagasa River to its once clean condition, organizing both the city’s water company and local citizens in a clean up project. The plans are now being laid and the project will be fully launched in 2008.

Dr. Arnildo Castro Tamayo, City Health Officer, City Health Department, outlined his project made at the second AUICK workshop of 2007. It aims to develop the Volunteer Disaster Brigade, for citizens to cooperate in the promotion of city-wide natural disaster preparedness.

On 14 September, the AUICK delegation was taken to see sites related to the Action Plans of the AUICK workshop participants from Olongapo City.

Officials of UNFPA Philippines Office.

An HIV/AIDS laboratory of James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital.

River channel beside the City Mall

Federation of Senior Citizens Association

Olongapo Center for Assistance, Rehabilitation and Empowerment (OCARE)

Sta. Rita Elementary School

Olongapo City Women’s Center

Filtration Plant, Subicwater

Sanitary Landfill, New Cabalan

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3. Visit to Khon Kaen, Thailand

From 14 to 17 November 2007, the third delegation comprising of Mr. Manabu Shinya, Executive Director, and Mr. Nobuyuki Morimoto, Deputy Executive Director, visited Khon Kaen City in Thailand.

In the early morning of 15 November, the delegation witnessed a Health Office Rally held by the municipality’s Emergency Health Service.

A meeting was then held with Mayor Mr. Peerapon Pattanapeeradej and senior officials, to discuss the further ties between AUICK and the municipality.

The delegation visited the College of Asian Scholars (CAS) which was founded by Dr. Krasae Chanawongse, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, and Member of AUICK International Advisory Committee. There, the delegation held a monitoring meeting with three of the workshop participants from Khon Kaen Municipality.

Ms. Nudnapa Juntavaree Chief of the Promotion Participation and Decentralization Department, attended the Second 2006 Workshop. She addressed the growing aged problem with a project mobilizing the city health services to address geriatric issues, providing funds for elderly poor and organizing an adult education program.

Mr. Thawatchai Wanaphithukkun, Chief of the Subdivision of Construction Control, attended the First 2007 Workshop. He launched a project to reduce water consumption in the metropolitan area.  Past and current water consumption levels were assessed, business and NGO partners were identified, and a media campaign is planned for 2008.

Mr. Thotsaphon Wong-Asa Chief of the Subdivision of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Section, Office of Public Works, attended the First 2006 Workshop. He presented the progress of his Action Plan to develop a bio-diesel project which will both lower city fuel costs and reduce CO2 emissions. A bio-diesel plant was constructed with the help of university engineers, and used oils are collected from local restaurants to produce fuel for the city’s fleet of trucks and busses.

Leaving the CAS, Ms. Juntavaree guided the delegation to Ban Non Chai Municipal School, where they saw aged citizens passing on traditional craft skills to school children.

Mrs. Wilasinee Samanchate, Head of Health Promotion, Health and Environment, attended the Second 2007 Workshop, where she made an Action Plan for a Maternal and Child Health Care in Disaster Committee to provide health care in unforeseen disaster situations. Mrs. Samanchate guided the delegation to the Ban Sam Liam Community Health Center, where they interviewed the staff membes on current services for maternal and child health care in the community.

On 16 November, Mr. Thotsaphon Wong-Asa guided the delegation to the Kumnongkoo Municipal School, which has been promoting environmental education for school children. The delegation inspected a biodiesel laboratory, a plant cultivation garden for bio-fuel, a garbage separation depot, and a demonstration of energy generation by human power.

He then guided the delegation to the bio-diesel plan in the University of Khon Kaen.

The delegation visited the Khon Kaen Provincial Health Office, where they met Ms. Wallapa Prangthawat, Chief of the Disease Control Unit. She attended the First 2007 Workshop, and formulated an Action Plan to address the country’s and the city’s growing HIV/AIDs problem. In effect, three different but related projects for reproductive health developed an educational campaign on AIDs and adolescents, a peer counseling center with NGOs to tackle unwanted pregnancies among adolescents, and a new training program to tackle infant mortality, for medical personnel to identify problem symptoms early. The plan also expanded services in the government’s primary health care system. Ms. Prangthawat showed an HIV/AIDs prevention peer counseling center for high school students, and a community in which condoms are available in a vending machine installed on the wall of a store.

The AUICK delegation then visited Ban Non Chai Municipal School, and a dinner was hosted by the municipality.

On 16 November, the delegation visited Khon Kaen University and the Health Department of the municipality.

In the morning of 17 November, they visited Khum Nongkhoo Municipal School to hold a monitoring meeting with Mr. Suphat Laochai, Principal of the school, who attended the Second 2005 Workshop. The progress of his Action Plan was reported by Mrs. Sontaya Bamroong, Vice principal of the school.

The plan organized a drive to promote primary school education by providing financial assistance to very poor families, whose children would otherwise be at risk of dropping out of school. It identified and provided assistance to near 100 needy children, and worked with a local NGO to maintain both information gathering and financial assistance as needed.

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4. Visit to Chittagong, Bangladesh

The AUICK delegation composed of Mr. Manabu Shinya and Mr. Nobuyuki Morimoto traveled to Chittagong on 17 November. The delegation was accompanied by Dr. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, Professor of the Department of Sociology of the University of Chittagong, and Dr. Rafiqus Sultan, National Professional/ Project Personnel of UNFPA Bangladesh Office.

At the Chittagong Peninsula Hotel, the delegation held a monitoring meeting with  Mr. Kazi Mobassher Ahmed Hashemi, Ward Commissioner of　Ward No.2, who attended the First 2006 Workshop. He presented two projects developed to address the city’s many environmental problems. An improved solid waste management system was devised with tricycle rickshaws to collect trash from slum areas, and a greening program was planned to plant large numbers of trees in 2008. Both programs made extensive use of the many NGOs that work in the city.

Dr. Shahana Perveen, Director, Mid-Wifery Institute, Health, Chittagong City Corporation guided the delegation to a workshop, which is part of the ongoing training program on HIV/AIDs organized by Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) with the funding of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). There were 25 participants in the workshop who were all medical doctors from different organizations, including CCC.

Then, the delegation visited the building of CCC, and met with Mr. Alhaj Monjur Alam, Acting Mayor of Chittagong, Mr. Mahfuzur Rahman, Administrator, and other senior officials. Mr. Shinya expressed appreciation for the support and cooperation by the Chittagong City Corporation toward the activities of the AUICK project for the years 2004-2007, and outlined the concept of the project for the years 2008-2011. The acting mayor greatly appreciated AUICK efforts to train city officials and further enable them to contribute to the development of the city. He requested the delegation to look into initiatives and financial support for setting up an incineration plant for smooth waste management in the city. He also expressed his intention to extend the utmost cooperation for the effective implementation of action plans submitted by the city officials who attended the AUICK workshops.

In the Chittagong City Corporation building, the delegation held a monitoring meeting with Health Officer Dr. Salim Akhter Chowdhury, who attended the First 2005 Workshop. He explained his Action Plan to address the growing problem of HIV/AIDs. The plan was devised to create a counseling center with clinical services and to launch an education program. A management committee was created; NGOs were mobilized; a media campaign was launched; male and female educators were trained for all colleges and universities; clinical services were developed; and a survey was taken to plan for the future. His Action Plan is funded by GTZ. The delegation visited the Chittagong office of GTZ, where Mr. Humayun Kabir, Project Officer, briefed on the Multi-Sectoral HIV/AIDS Program in the City.

Dr. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, Dr. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, Professor of Chittagong University, attended the First 2007 Workshop. He developed an Action Plan for appropriate water environment management in urban areas. Soon after he returned to Chittagong, he submitted the plan to the acting mayor, who suggested the organization of programs firstly in schools and colleges under the City Corporation, to educate students on water use or the 3 Rs (Reduce, Recycle, Reuse), as well as environment protection, tree plantation for city greenery and so on. The acting mayor also decided to form a steering committee to monitor the implementation and follow-up of Action Plans, as per AUICK guidelines/training. The first environmental awareness and water management seminar was organized at Kathghar Girls High School.

The AUICK delegation visited Kapashgola Girls High School and College, to speak on the waste management system and cleanliness program of Kobe City to the students.

The delegation visited the Mostafa Hakim Urban Primary Health Care Center (UPHCP), to hold a monitoring meeting with Dr. Mohammed Nasim Bhuiya, Project Manager, Partnership Agreement-3, Second Urban Primary Healthcare Project, Health Department. He attended the Second 2006 Workshop, where he formulated a project to begin to deal with the issue of population aging. This is not yet a major problem for Bangladesh, since the aged are still small in number and the family system appears sufficient to provide the needed care for the aged. The problem will rise in the future, however, and the city wishes to be prepared. A series of discussions and data gathering activities has begun with appropriate city officials and university scientists to plan for the future.

The AUICK delegation then visited the facilities of the Urban Primary Health Care Project (UPHCP), which is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNFPA.

Then, Dr. Shahana Perveen guided the delegation to the Midwifery Institute. At the Second 2007 Workshop, she developed a plan to form a disaster management core committee, to organize health care and assistance to citizens in times of natural disaster. Following discussions with the Acting Mayor and other city officials, a Disaster Management Control Core Committee, headed by the Acting Mayor, has been formed. This includes embers of different government offices, media representatives, Social Elites and Civil Forms. Community based Disaster Committees have also been formed in each ward, headed by Ward Commissioners. Community based training programs for disaster management are also conducted in the city.

After this, the delegation spoke to the Midwifery Institute students, explaining AUICK activities.

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5. Visit to UNFPA Vietnam Office

On 21 November 2007, the third delegation, headed by Dr. Hirofumi Ando, visited the UNFPA country office of Vietnam to meet with Representative Mr. Ian Howie. Dr. Ando expressed appreciation for the strengthened ties with UNFPA in conducting activities in Danang, especially the establishment of a Management Information System (MIS) with the collaboration of Danang University. Mr. Howie praised AUICK’s achievements in Danang over the last 4 years, and confirmed further support for the next term project.

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6. Visit to Danang, Vietnam

From Hanoi, the delegation traveled to Danang, accompanied by Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hong, National Program Officer (M&E) of UNFPA Philippines Office.

In Danang, they met with Mr. Tran Phuoc Chinh, First Vice Chairman of the Danang People’s Committee, to discuss AUICK activities in the city. Dr. Ando thanked the Danang People’s Committee for their support for AUICK activities, and especially the remarkable progress in the Danang MIS establishment.

The delegation visited the Department of Education and Training (DOET) to hold a monitoring meeting with Director, Mr. Huynh Van Hoa, who attended the Second 2005 Workshop. He presented the progress of his project to ensure 100% primary school enrollment and maintenance. This began with information gathering on teacher perceptions and needs, identifying at risk children and families, working with parent and teacher organizations, and providing financial assistance to the needy. He also reported that the city and DOET are progressing toward high school education universalization. He guided the delegation around a high school which accepts several hundred poor children.

The delegation then visited the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to meet Vice Director Mr. An Van Nguyen, who attended the Second 2005 Workshop. His Action Plan addressed the problem of the aged. It will provide a fund for soft loans for those who are still actively engaged in the “informal” sector of the market, and who will soon begin to grow rapidly in number. The program is planned for inauguration in 2008.

After the meeting with Mr. An Van Nguyen, the delegation inspected an elderly care facility.

Mr. Hong Dinh Tran, Deputy Director of the Construction Service, made a plan to address the city’s wastewater treatment system at the AUICK First 2007 Workshop. The project will create an experimental program for a new system for the city. Studies are now working on technical aspects. There will be extensive discussions with residential groups where the experiment will be developed, and the system will be put in place in 2008.

Dr. Kim Anh Thi Doan Vo, Vice Director of the Health Department, made an Action Plan to address the rising HIV/AIDs problem at the First 2005 Workshop. This especially focused on the youth, mobilizing and training health workers and establishing a highly innovative street corner youth counseling program with media campaigns, and providing necessary medical supplies.

Dr. Kim Anh Thi Doan Vo made a second plan, assisted by Dr. Tran Dinh Vinh, Head of the Obstetric Gynecology Department of Danang Hospital, at the Second 2007 Workshop. This will create a committee for maternal and child health care in natural disasters, to provide health care during Danang’s many storms.

The delegation was shown around Danang Hospital.

In the morning of 23 November, the AUICK delegation visited Danang University, to discuss the progress of the Management Information System (MIS) in Danang with President & Professor, Dr. Sc. Bui Van Ga, and Prof. Bui Quang Binh. Prof. Bui Quang Binh demonstrated the computerized statistic data analysis program under formulation. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hong provided Prof. Bui Quang Binh with data from UNFPA Vietnam Office, and confirmed continued cooperation toward the completion of the system.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Hoa Mi Nursery School, which was just renovated and reopened on 20 November 2007, with funding of USD90,000 from a Kobe citizen, and 400 million VND from Danang city.

The delegation visited the Department of Transport and Public Works to hold a monitoring meeting with Director, Mr. Dung Viet Dang. He formulated a program to establish a new waste management company, developing new training courses for all staff with the help of the university, as well as forming two new NGOs and devising a plan for new construction in 2008.

After the meeting with Mr. Dung Viet Dang, the delegation was guided to a community which has begun practicing domestic waste segregation.