The Gates Institute advocacy projects are led by past trainees, such as from the Institute’s 2004 Parliamentarian Leadership Seminar. In Nigeria, the Honorable Saudatu Sani launched AdvocacyNigeria to increase funding for reproductive health programs, and in Pakistan the Honorable Ruquiya Saeed, organized a Parliamentary Leadership Forum for her colleagues to familiarize them with important reproductive health issues and mobilize them to act to improve reproductive health. Launched by the Gates Institute and implemented by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, AdvocacyNigeria is a focused strategy with the primary goals of increasing RH funding, changing RH laws and policies that inhibit services, and increasing donor commitment to RH for Nigeria. AdvocacyNigeria is calling for the political will, monetary and human resources to make basic health services available, so that women can have children without fear of dying, while reducing maternal mortality and morbidity will also help reduce the unacceptable high child mortality rate of 100 to 1,000 children under five years of age. Among its recommendations are: maternal and newborn health should be made a high priority on the agenda of government and other partners in development all obstetric emergencies must be treated free for the first 24 hours government at all levels should allocate at least 15% of the total annual budget to health and at least 10% of that should be committed to reproductive health services public private partnership should be encouraged while corporate bodies should devote some resources to promote reproductive health.
AdvocacyNigeria benefits from the involvement of a cadre of Nigerian professionals and relies on a network of key individuals knowledgeable about and linked into the resource decision-making processes of government and local donor missions. These individuals identify opportunities to share information and strengthen commitment for resources being allocated to reproductive health and policy change. In June 2006, the Gates Institute was invited by the Ministry of Population Welfare (MOPW), Pakistan, to participate in a national population summit to advance intersectoral efforts of line ministries and non-profit organizations to achieve population stabilization. Institute representatives are also members of the MOPW’s International Support Group. In tandem with the Ministry of Health’s outreach through Lady Health Workers, the MOPW has engaged community-level religious leaders and teachers to respond to pressing reproductive health needs. In September 2005 the Balochistan Foundation for Development, under the leadership of the Honorable Dr. Ruquiya Saeed, member of the Balochistan provincial assembly and Gates seminar participant, and Ms. Sahar M. Abad, Packard-Gates leadership fellow, organized a three-day parliamentarian seminar, “Addressing Balochistan Challenges for Population and Reproductive Health”. The BFD is following up on participant commitments to improve the reproductive health situation in Balochistan. “The Silence Within” shares the tragic burden of unwanted pregnancies and abortion stigma among poor couples in rural and urban areas. Many of these wives, often with their husbands’ support, seek out unsafe abortions and risk their health and lives. Filmed in Pakistan’s four provinces, the stories of these women and men, shared openly in their own voices, remind us of how vulnerable couples are daily to unplanned pregnancies and to the failure of society, health services and communities to help. The silence these couples carry within is disquieting and a burden easily prevented. The Silence Within was filmed and produced in 2005 by Feryal Ali-Gauhar, a leading Pakistani television anchor, cinematographer, writer, social commentator, and reproductive rights advocate. Feryal Ali-Gauhar was also a 2004 participant in the Gate Summer Institute in reproductive health and development. (With English subtitles, 40 minutes, DVD and CD-ROM format) Silence Within Video Clip |
