FAITH-BASED GROUPS PROPEL DEVELOPMENT, SAYS HEAD OF UN POPULATION AGENCY

Faith-based groups play a key role in promoting development, the head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has said, stressing the need for stepped-up cooperation between the world body and religious organizations in boosting the welfare of the most vulnerable.

UNFPA is cognizant of "the profound moral authority that religious leaders have" and is aware of "the fact that religious organizations are the older social service providers humankind has known," Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the agency's Executive Director, said at a round table discussion yesterday with faith-based organizations.

Between 30 and 60 per cent of basic healthcare services in the developing world are provided by such groups, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), while the World Bank has found that in some instances, health and education services offered by the religious organizations are better than those of governments.

Given this evidence, "systematic, deliberate and focused" engagement between faith-based groups and the UN is crucial, Ms. Obaid said at the gathering in New York.

"Ad-hoc partnerships, and ones where the United Nations is a donor and the faith-based organization is one of many civil society partners, can be lost opportunities," she cautioned.

Therefore, the official said, a studied approach focusing on "culturally sensitive development" is essential to enhance any collaboration between the UN and religious groups to promote human rights.

Areas ripe for cooperation include HIV/AIDS, women's empowerment, maternal health, migration, humanitarian relief, reproductive health and gender-based violence, Ms. Obaid emphasized.
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SRI LANKA CONFLICT CURTAILS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS, WARNS UN AGENCY

SRI LANKA CONFLICT CURTAILS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS, WARNS UN AGENCY
New York, Feb 24 2009 5:00PM

The ongoing conflict in northern Sri Lanka between the Government and a rebel group is limiting access to health care, putting the lives of tens of thousands of people at risk, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned today.

The agency called for a rapid assessment of health needs, improved preventive and curative care and enhanced coordination among all health partners.

It said that the health sector is understaffed, resulting in reduced health care for many people, while the clashes and population displacement are impacting patient referrals.

It is also feared that high immunization rates will not be maintained and that expectant mothers are not able to access the services they need.

The health sector is asking for $7.4 million – of which the WHO is seeking over $4 million – as part of the Common Humanitarian Action Plan for Sri Lanka to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in strife-torn areas.

To date, the sector has been focusing on assisting people in Kilinochi, Mannar, Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu through the delivery of mobile clinics, drugs, medical equipment and bed nets, among other items.

Health awareness campaigns have been carried out and psychosocial and mental health care is also being provided.

"If further measures aren't taken, health care will continue to deteriorate and outbreaks of malaria, dengue, measles and other communicable diseases could occur," WHO said in a statement, also warning of the increased threat of gender-based violence.

Some 250,000 civilians are trapped in northern Sri Lanka, where Government forces are battling the separatists Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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