United Press International - August 22, 2002
William M. Reilly From the International Desk

Abubakar Dungus, a spokesman for the fund, still known by its former initials of UNFPA, said the campaigns started independent of each other last week.

Lois Abraham, of Taos, N.M. and Jane Roberts, of Redlands, Calif., reached out to friends across the political spectrum to send a message that providing family planning and reproductive health care to women in need was supported by millions of Americans and regarded as a humanitarian issue and not a political issue, he said.

"What does it mean in concrete terms to say that our government has denied funding to the United Nations Population Fund: It means that we are refusing treatment to 14-year-old girls condemned to life with fistula," Abraham told UNFPA.

"A reduced budget for UNFPA means that more women will struggle to deliver and take care of their babies because the help they need cannot be provided. We can't let that happen."

Roberts was quoted as saying: "At a time when America is looking for cooperation and asking much of the world, the administration has chosen to shut the door to cooperation in this most basic endeavor, helping women plan their families and give birth safely."

Checks began arriving Aug. 12 at UNFPA's East 42nd St. office in New York, including one from an unidentified individual in Maine who sent a check for $25,000, Dungus said.

"This is an example of the commitment of the American people to be part of international efforts to improve the quality of life of families in developing countries, especially of women who are the immediate beneficiaries of UNFPA-supported programs," said UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid.

"We wholeheartedly welcome this support from the American public for the joint efforts of many countries to provide health services and prevent diseases."

Earlier this month, Dungus said, the 133 members of the "Group of 77" developing countries declared that the loss of the $34 million earlier this year would harm the global effort to prevent HIV/AIDS. They also said the loss would jeopardize programs in developing countries where UNFPA's support has been critical for poverty eradication and sustainable development.

Some of the programs that would be affected include those to ensure safe delivery in eight rural districts in Kenya and improve emergency obstetric care in Burundi, Dungus said.

The $34 million could prevent 2 million unwanted pregnancies, nearly 800,000 abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths, nearly 60,000 serious maternal illness, and more than 77,000 infant and child deaths.

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