AUICK First Study Course on Specific Fields of Urban Policy 1996

BACKGROUND

Since its establishment in 1989, the Asian Urban Information Center of Kobe (AUICK) has been investigating and researching various urban problems through the implementation of "Asian Urban Inquiries" and "In-depth Studies." In 1994, the AUICK added a new program, the "Group Training Course on Integrated Urban Policy," for mid-level administrative officials of medium-sized Asian cities that deals with general urban problems in various fields, in order to reflect the investigation results in practical solutions of problems.

In 1996, AUICK started another program, the "Study Course on Specific Fields of Urban Policy," for high-ranking officials of medium-sized Asian cities, focusing on the fields that were found to require further study, during the above-mentioned training course.

AUICK invited one participant each year for three consecutive years from the same city. Each year a participant was selected from a different field based on that year's theme. This course was also aimed at building a network to promote the interchange of persons and exchange of information among the participating cities, AUICK and the City of Kobe.

THEME

Health, Medical and Welfare Services.

PERIOD

Wednesday, 4 December to Friday, 20 December 1996.

PARTICIPANTS

The course consisted of participants from 9 target countries: Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. (Click here for more information on the participant qualification.)

Muhammad N. A. Mamoon
Chief Health Officer, Chittagong City Corporation, BANGLADESH
   
Guo Zeyu
Director, Department of NCD Control, Bureau of Public Health, Tianjin Municipality, CHINA
   
Widiharto
Head, Municipal Health Service, Surabaya Municipality, INDONESIA
   
Rai Qamar-uz-Zaman
Health Officer, South Zone, Municipal Corporation Faisalabad, PAKISTAN
   
Pacita Encina Alcantara
City Health Officer II, Health Department, Olongapo City, PHILIPPINES

Lau Hong Choon
Doctor in charge, Woodlands Polyclinic, Family Health Service, Ministry of Health, SINGAPORE

Bae Tae Soo
Former Director, Family Welfare Department, Pusan Metropolitan City (dispatched in Fukuoka City), SOUTH KOREA
   
Benja Koonklang
Director, Health, Medical and Environment Division, Khon Kaen Municipality, Khon Kaen, THAILAND
   
Phan Trong Khanh
Head, General and Administrative Department of Haiphong, Health Service, Haiphong City, VIETNAM

REVIEW

The Group Training Course on Integrated Urban Policy was undertaken by the Asian Urban Information Center of Kobe in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund in 1994, as one of the annual events of AUICK.

Based on  three years' experience, we have decided to initiate another training course in addition to the annual regular training course. We recognized that some specific training course for high-class administrators will be especially important in city administrative management and policy making because they are in the position to advise the Mayor and also supervise many administrators working under them.

Three major specific topics are dealt with in the three years' project: health and welfare for first year, housing has been proposed for the second year and environmental issues for the third year.

We are very happy to have accepted very appropriate, qualified participants from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The majority of them are medical professionals and have sufficient experience and knowledge about their specific field. We believe that they were able to enjoy this study course, exchange information not only about the specific case of the Kobe earthquake, but also about other cities of Asia.

We were also able to invite wonderful lecturers who gave the participants an excellent experience and new ideas directly concerned with their activities. One is Mr. Satish Mehra, UNFPA representative of the Philippines, who gave detailed information on "reproductive health and rights" which was a major topic of the International Conference of Population and Development (Cairo Conference in 1994). To interpret and implement reproductive health policy is not an easy task, particularly at local government level. Mr. Mehra introduced how to approach this issue and practical ways to implement reproductive health programs, based on the manual to show guideline worked out bv UNFPA.

We are also proud of the participation of Dr. Krasae Chanawongse from Thailand as a member of the teaching staff for the First Study Course on Specific Fields of Urban Policy. Dr. Krasae is well known, not only as a political leader, but also as a medical doctor actively working in the field of the primary health care movement nationally and internationally. All participants have been deeply impressed by his enthusiastic and witty lectures, based on his broad experiences as a public health doctor.

I would like to refer to Dr. Kenji Hayashi, Chief of the Health Demography Division of the National Institute of Public Health, Japan, who was invited to talk about morbidity, mortality and also family planning in Japan. He is also rich in experience in relation to teaching of health demography to which all participants have had profound concern from their own standpoint.

Although this first study course is specifically designed to focus on a specific field, like health administration, other related topics including demographic transition, migration issue and family planning programs were added in the study course in order to help them have a broad outlook, in view of their high status as administrators.

Finally, my personal observations are added. The First Study Course on Specific Fields of Urban Policy was greatly successful. It was much more effective than our expectations.  One reason is that the reproductive health issue, which must be a serious concern for the participants, is taken up by the most appropriate person. Another is that three excellent experts accepted our request to cooperate with us as discussion leaders.

Lastly, I would like to suggest two points to the participants. One is rapid decline of infant mortality rate which is not only an important motive to induce fertility decline, but also closely related with family welfare. I believe that all participants realized why Japan has achieved the lowest infant mortality rate in the world. I do  strongly hope that each participant develops new ideas to accelerate a declining trend of infant mortality rate in his or her country. My second point is the improvement of a vital statistics system. Accuracy and full coverage of vital events are basic information for city governments. Also births and deaths are very important events for families, affecting their daily lives economically and socially. I believe that all participants now identify their own situation by comparing Kobe and countries of other participants.

All of us sincerely hope that participation in our First Study Course on Specific Fields of Urban Policy might be an opportunity for them to be encouraged to develop an effective city administration system and the improvement of people's living conditions.