PRESS CONFERENCE BY UN POPULATION FUND

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY UN POPULATION FUND

Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999, who has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Botswana, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this morning that she hoped to use the position to promote the rights of women and youth to information on family planning and to receive proper sexual and reproductive health care and services.

She also believed that between her and the UNFPA, the goals of the Fund could be achieved in Botswana and that the Government and non-governmental organizations could be encouraged to invest more in HIV/AIDS awareness, research and education, especially among the youth.

At the press conference were Kunio Waki, newly appointed Deputy Executive Director of the UNFPA, Eriko Hibi, Programme Officer of the Africa Division, and Abubakar Dungus, UNFPA Spokesperson.

Ms. Kwelagobe said she would also try to help break the generational gap that existed not only in Botswana but in other parts of Africa between parents and children, so that sex education and HIV/AIDS awareness might start at home. "I hope that from my own ambition and determination to succeed in life that I may continue to be a pillar of strength and hope in Botswana and that I may be a role model for young women of Botswana and throughout Africa, she said.

She told the press that she had a vision that one day the HIV statistics in Botswana would drop and that young women in her native Botswana would have all the necessary information they needed on sexual and reproductive health. She also envisioned a drop in teenage pregnancy and that parents would one day find it more comfortable to talk to their children on such subjects. She also hoped that through her own projects, children orphaned by AIDS would be remembered, and that through the UNFPA and the Government of Botswana those goals could be accomplished.

Noting that dealing with reproductive rights of women in Africa meant, to some extent, changing cultural attitudes, a correspondent asked Ms. Kwelagobe how difficult that was. She said it would be quite difficult, to some extent, adding that many women were not in a position to receive first-hand information on the subject, and might even feel uncomfortable asking for it. They also did not receive adequate health care services. "So, I really hope that we can promote this, and that women do get all these services, and that they feel comfortable in asking for them", she said.

Mr. Waki said young people did not listen to their parents, but to their peers, on subjects relating to reproductive issues. The UNFPA hoped for an

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education programme that would reach young people. Noting how intelligent and articulate Ms. Kwalegobe was, he said "something must be good about her family and also about the education system in Botswana". That strength in Botswana had to be the basis for her work there, he also said, adding that she had demonstrated what she could do through her voluntary work. He was hopeful that she could help the UNFPA work with the Government and non-governmental organizations.

Commenting on her advocacy qualities, Mr. Dungus said it was through "very smart women and men" and others like Ms. Kwelagobe that the UNFPA’s message -- the need for "a healthy living, and healthy reproductive lives" -- would be brought home. One person at a time, and a year at a time, would change attitudes and lead to a more healthy population, he added.

Responding to a question about the kind of HIV/AIDS programmes undertaken in Botswana and whether they were talked about in schools, Ms. Kwelagobe said there was no sex education in schools. That had been her experience in high school, which she had completed about a year and a half ago. She said, "perhaps it is a generation gap where it was not comfortable for older persons to talk to young people about that subject".

She talked about an organization called PACT -- Peer Approach to Counselling by Teenagers -- which had been established with funding from the UNFPA. She said 20 promising youths from schools trained by social workers were used as positive role models. Weekly panel discussions on such topics as teenage pregnancy were organized with no adults present. The peer leaders conducted the discussions, she said, adding that it was on such occasions that "all myths" about sex came out. Ms. Kwelagobe said she was a PACT member, and that they tried to use their influence positively, because they knew that they had a greater chance of doing so than their parents.

Earlier, introducing Ms. Kwelagobe, Mr. Waki said she was a very important partner of the UNFPA in development, noting her work with the UNFPA through PACT. He said the Fund would work with her to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. He had been informed that HIV/AIDS was not only a leading cause of death across Africa, but that two thirds of those infected were located in southern Africa. It was "a frightening truth" that half of all newly infected were young people between 15 and 24 years of age. He said that as a former UNICEF official he had seen many children, abandoned by their parents, roaming the streets and somehow surviving as orphans. With the disease attacking young people, there was not much future for the countries involved.

It was very important for the UNFPA and other agencies to work with young people. Almost one out of every four adults in Botswana were infected with HIV/AIDS, he said, adding that "it’s really a crisis situation". Life expectancy was also dropping -– from 61 to 47. If nothing was done, it could fall even lower, he also said. That was why the role of Miss Universe was very

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important, he said. The UNFPA had spent $2.5 million in the last five years in Botswana. It had to focus its efforts on reproductive health services, particularly for adolescents. It was also working with the Ministry of Health of the country and non-governmental organizations to provide youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services. Mr. Waki said he saw in Ms.Kwelagobe a symbol of hope for her country and also for East Africa, where there was a serious problem with HIV/AIDS. He announced that Ms. Kwelagobe would be returning to Botswana in two weeks and would be working with UNFPA officials there. She would be meeting political leaders and hopefully ensure proper allocation for projects.

In a press release, UNFPA states its support for the PACT project dates back to 1994. Based on PACT’s success in reaching 7,600 students at 11 schools in Gaborone, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) brought the programme to Francistown. There PACT has trained training officers, peer educators and headmasters, teachers and community leaders through courses at the YWCA. The UNFPA also supports the Botswana Family Welfare Association -- another youth non-governmental organization in a programme called “Widening Choices”.

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