Dr Natalia Kanem Archives

Dr Natalia Kanem Reappointed UNFPA Executive Director

October 5, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THE Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Secretary-General have reappointed Dr. Natalia Kanem (Panama) as Executive Director of UNFPA for a second term of four years. By Michael Gwarisa Dr. Kanem joined UNFPA in 2014 as UNFPA Country Representative in the United Republic of Tanzania. In 2016, she was named Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director (Programme), before being appointed Executive Director in October 2017, bringing more than 30 years of strategic leadership experience in the fields of preventive medicine, public and reproductive health, social justice…

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Nearly Half Of All Women Are Denied Their Bodily Autonomy, Says new UNFPA report

April 15, 2021 Healthtimes

NEARLY half of women in 57 developing countries are denied the right to decide whether to have sex with their partners, use contraception or seek health care, according to UNFPA’s 2021 flagship State of World Population report, released today. By Staff Reporter According to the UNFPA report, the lack of bodily autonomy has massive implications beyond the profound harms to individual women and girls: potentially depressing economic productivity, undercutting skills, and resulting in extra costs to health care and judicial systems. Through the groundbreaking report, UNFPA is measuring both women’s…

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One year after Nairobi, the march continues towards rights and choices for all

November 12, 2020November 12, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

Despite global COVID-19 crisis, governments uphold support for women’s and girls’ health and rights, one year after historic summit on ICPD25 AS the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the health and economies of countries around the world, governments, non-governmental organizations, international financial institutions and the private sector are stepping up political, financial and in-kind support for programmes that protect the health and rights of women and girls in developing countries. A year ago, at the landmark Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, the world came together to commit…

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New High Level Commission Established To Track ICPD25 Commitments As COVID-19 Threatens To Sway Progress

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

A new High-Level Commission of advocates, experts and activists will be established today to help commitments to women’s health and rights made at the November 2019 Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 stay on track, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is blocking access to essential services, such as family planning and antenatal care. By Michael Gwarisa The Nairobi Summit secured billions of dollars in commitments from governments, the private sector, foundations and others. It rallied support to achieve “three zeros” – zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal deaths,…

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Gvt, UNFPA Raise Concern Over Widening Contraceptive Gap Due To COVID-19

August 7, 2020August 13, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have bemoaned the challenges being faced by women and girls to access contraceptives and family planning services during the COVID-19 induced lockdown. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a Virtual Media briefing to commemorate World Population Day which ran under theme, “Putting the brakes on COVID-19: How to Safeguard the Health and Rights of Women and Girls Now?” Women Affairs Minister, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said the lockdown had made access to critical contraceptives…

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Time To Confront Silent & Endemic Crisis Of Harmful Practices- UNFPA

June 30, 2020June 30, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

EVERY year, millions of girls are subjected to practices that harm them physically and emotionally, with the full knowledge and consent of their families, friends and communities, according to the State of World Population 2020, released today by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. At least 19 harmful practices, ranging from breast ironing to virginity testing, are considered human rights violations, according to the UNFPA report Against My Will, which focuses on the three most prevalent ones: child marriage, female genital mutilation and extreme bias against daughters…

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COVID-19 Threatens Access To Obsteric Care

May 22, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem says the prevailing COVID-19 global health pandemic was making difficult for some pregnant women to access obstetric care. By Michael Gwarisa In her statement to mark the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula commemorations to be held tommorow, 23 May 2020, Dr Kanem said the prevailing global pandemic had pushed health systems to limits. Last November, the world convened in Nairobi to celebrate the tremendous gains of the past 25 years in advancing the health and rights of women…

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UNFPA Monitors Coronavirus Impact On Pregnant & breastfeeding Women

March 12, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says it is closely monitoring the Coronavirus pandemic especially its effects to pregnant and lactating women. By Michael Gwarisa UNFPA Executive Director, Dr Natalia Kanem said pregnant women deserve priority treatment during times as these. As the new Coronavirus appears across the world, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency is closely monitoring the outbreak and especially its impact on pregnant and breastfeeding women. “Safe pregnancy and child birth both depend upon functioning health systems and strict adherence to infection precautions. Women…

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US$264 Billion Required To Cover Critical ICPD Gaps

November 13, 2019November 13, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director, Dr Natalia Kanem says a total of US$264 billion investment is required to transform the future of women’s health as well as the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for girls and women. By Michael Gwarisa in Nairobi, Kenya Addressing a media briefing, Dr Kanem said the Narobi Summit on International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) is to mobilise the political will and financial commitments so urgently needed to implement the program of action that was agreed by governments in 1994…

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Major Commitments Mark ICPD Summit Opening

November 12, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE summit to mark 25 years since the International Population Development (ICPD) kicked off today (November, 12 2019) in Nairobi, Kenya amidst major commitments by governments, civil society and private sector organisations to accelerate access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for women and young people. By Michael Gwarisa in Nairobi Kenya The commitments are being made during the three-day Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, taking place 25 years after the landmark International Conference on Population and Development, in Cairo, where 179 governments adopted an action plan for women’s empowerment…

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