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Summary: The government of India has taken steps to reinvigorate its Reproductive and Child Health (RCH II) programme and is committed to achieving MDGs" said the Mrs Panabaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, while delivering the inaugural speech In the 'International Forum on Integration of ICPD and MDGs jointly organized by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Partners in Population and Development (PPD) and held Jaypee Palace Hotel, in Agra, India from November 21-22, 2005. The event was supported by UNFPA.
She emphasised the importance of integration of ICPD (International Conference on Population and Development) and MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), and of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programmes. PPD aims at promoting transfer of knowledge and expertise in population and development and since the signing of Cairo Conference; countries have taken steps to integrate these into their policies. She further said that the ten years ahead of the internationally agreed time- period of 2015, it is time to review future strategies. She informed the delegates of the Forum that by launching the National Rural Health Mission Programme (NRHM), the Government of India aims to provide accessible, reliable and effective health care to poor and vulnerable population in all parts of the country. The key aspect of this highly ambitious programme is the provision of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), or a community health worker to provide health care to the village community at their doorstep. The Forum was started on November 21. 2005. In the beginning Mr A. P. Singh, Director, International Cooperation, and Mr S. S Brar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India welcome participants. Dr Timothee Gandaho, Executive Director, PPD, said that the greatest challenge of the international community is to share their knowledge and wisdom on key issues of concern like HIV/AIDS and commodity security. South -South collaboration is the most effective modality to improve each other's programmes in population. He cautioned that South-South collaboration is a not a substitute to North-South collaboration, but an additional mechanism to accelerate development process in these countries. Mr Kunio Waki, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA believed that it a unique moment of opportunity for the member countries to express their commitment to work towards internally agreed goals of making reproductive health services and products accessible to all. Mr Waki suggested documenting competent strategies, facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building among countries and re-examining policy and support to South -South collaboration as ways for up scaling social programmes. It is important to link the HIV/AIDS programme with other reproductive health programmes, provide leadership training for young people, working towards making treatment accessible to all. He stressed the need for better-disaggregated data, indicators, robust MDG monitoring mechanisms, and sector- wise approach to be able to deal with these issues of concern. He reiterated UNFPA's commitment to support activities relating to these issues. While speaking as key note speaker on theme 'Integration of ICPD Goals & MDGs' Prof. Dr. Haryono Suyono from Indonesia presented statistics indicating the world population growth, especially increases in the numbers of youth and old age population in Indonesia. He also pointed out the demographic transition that had taken place from an "agrarian community" characterised by high birth rate, and low status of women to "technological development" characterised by an urban community, declining fertility and mortality and a lower population growth. Pointing out the rapid population growth in India and China whom he called 'the two giants', he compared their development indicators from 1950- until now. Dr. S.L.N Rao, Senior Adviser, Partners New York Liaison Office presented the background paper on theme "Integration of ICPD Goals and MDGs". He highlighted in presentation about the lessons learned by the PPD member countries in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action and MDGs, present scenario in Integration of ICPD goals and MDGs. He also made some recommendations for future action by PPD. In continuation of theme country experience shared by Indonesia, Pakistan, He further stress that the policy dialogue needs to strengthen at the level of the national governments. Higher the level of participation, more people will accept the integration of ICPD and MDGs. He further added that resource mobilization still remains a challenge. Although consistent demands are being made, to make sure that these yield results, it is necessary to make higher level representations to bilateral and multilateral donors, and to provide them with data that will attract their attention. Demands made by the countries and organizations need to be better articulated. We must also aim at generating more resources at local level and not always depend on external aid. The second theme for the day was "Integration of Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Services". Dr Nafis Sadik, United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific gave the keynote speech on this theme. Dr A Ramdoss, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India was not able to attend the first day of the forum be make it on second and spend whole day with the participants In his special address Dr Ramdoss, express for greater efforts at all levels are essential to achieve the MDGs. MDGs are closely related to ICPD goals and the two complement each other. He was hopeful with the new National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) of the Government of India. It includes programmes related to safe drinking water, sanitation, reproductive health and many other components. The aim is to achieve 2.2 % GDP spending on health than the present 0.9%. Decentralised health delivery systems, management at the level of the district, community ownership, induction of village level personnel are the key components of the NRHM. The focus of the government is to address the regional inequities within the country for which time- bound action plans are needed. The way ahead is a shared vision to reach every child and mother, to address poverty and gender iniquity. The vision is that of a world free of diseases and takes bolder steps that can transfer knowledge into actions. She started with defining Reproductive Health Commodity Security as ensuring a secure supply and choice of quality contraceptives and other reproductive health commodities to meet every person's need at the right time and in the right place. Reviewing the Global Programme to enhance RHCS, she suggested advocacy to build a global political commitment to supply commodities, building national capacity to deliver reliable supplies, financing for enduring sustainable flow of material and coordination of procedures to simplify them as methods to attain commodity security. Recommending South-South collaboration, she suggested establishment of South -South coordination mechanism, forming technical requirements and products, establishing licensing criteria, sharing experiences, promoting development of related intellectual property and establishing international market as strategies for future action. The challenges in ensuring commodity security have been mentioned in ICPD Programme of Action. Pointing out the interrelations between Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) and RH goals, she mentioned that RHCS is essential to achieve the goals of universal access to reproductive health by 2015. Dr Anmubani Ramadoss, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, India chaired the panel India It was co- chaired by Mr Jyoti Singh, Permanent Observer to the UN, Partners Liaison Office, New York In this theme Bangladesh, china, India shares their country experience. Dr Ramadoss responded on the comment about traditional medicines by mentioning that traditional medicine, though popular till now in India, is now being integrated with modern medicine. India will try its best to share commodities, technology and research, especially within the South countries. AGRA DECLARATION The Declaration seeks from multilateral and bilateral donors to continue funding for HIV/AIDS programmes and to support initiatives that promote linkages between reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. Call on governments and international donors, as a matter of urgency, to secure firm political commitment for ensuring the availability and accessibility of affordable and quality reproductive health commodities, especially for the poor, the disadvantaged and underserved groups. The forum ended with comment made by Dr. Khander Mosharraf Houssain, Minister from Bangladesh, Mr Kunio Wako, Dy. Executive Director, UNFPA, HE Zhao Baige, Vice Minister from China, Ms. Jalaja, Add. Secretary, Ministry of H & FW from India. Mr Waki expressed his confidence that there is a clear direction that this forum has shown towards which the Partners should be heading, following the Forum. Many countries are moving towards spending almost 7% of health budget on HIV/AIDS and there is enough funding to support these programmes. However, there is a resource crunch in the field of reproductive health. The challenge is to be able to successfully integrate the two. Integrating the two has also proved to be cost effective at a time when the resources are few. Migrants and young people need special attention in the fast globalising world. There is a need to provide integrated mother and child health care, care for HIV/AIDS infected mother and child, and low- cost reproductive health services. He said that UNFPA's constant supported to PPD all its initiatives. Ms. Jalaja reiterated India's commitment to provide improved health status for India's people, to provide a sensitive health system, strive towards greater gender equity and mobilizing more resources for health sector. She also emphasised the importance of building valuable partnerships with PPD and reaffirm India's commitment. The International Forum followed by the tenth Annual Board Meeting of PPD on 23 November 2005 in Agra. The meeting discussed on various agenda including appointing the new executive director and elected new officer bearers of PPD.(ICYO-Youth Information)
The two day Forum had focus three major themes, includes the 'Integration of ICPD Goals & MDGs'; 'Integration of Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Services'; and 'Reproductive Health Commodity Security'.
Mr Jyoti S Singh, Permanent Observer, Partner's New York Liaison Office said that 'Learning from the example provided by various country and to translate it into action, researchers and NGOs should explore this relationship further to increase gender equality and broadening choices for women, reducing IMR and maternal mortality, and alleviating poverty so that the general prosperity of population can be ensured.
Integrating reproductive heath and HIV/AIDS services will help to end the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and encourage everyone to see prevention and treatment as a mainstream public health problem; it will apply expertise, human and financial resources efficiently, said Dr Sadik.
While discussing on 'Commodity Security' Dr Zhao Baige, Vice Minister, NPFPC, China had delivered the keynote speech on the issue.
Mr B P Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India said that the reproductive health commodities under the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH II) programme are basic contraceptives, family planning supplies, maternal health commodities, and diagnostic kits for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and drugs.
Mr Jyoti Shankar Singh presented the Agra Declaration, which was discussed in detail and after several suggestions incorporated in the Agra Declaration.
The Declaration urged to developed countries to increase their Official Development Assistance (ODA) so as to reach the internally agreed target of 0.7 per cent of GDP of OECD countries by 2015, while acknowledging our appreciation to those countries that have already reached the target and to those that have recently agreed to reach it in the near future.