Equatorial Guinea, UNFPA meet to enhance awareness program on reproductive health

Equatorial Guinea's (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Jeronimo Osa Osa Ecoro, met with the United Nations Regional Committee delegation to further discuss ways to facilitate technical assistance to the local United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to improve the effectiveness of its 2009-2012 Assistance Program activities in Equatorial Guinea. The main focus of the meeting was to enhance a cooperation program between Equatorial Guinea's government and the UNFPA in the reproductive health sector.

During the meeting, the parties discussed several issues, including the support of the awareness program through the national media, which also includes the Information Education Communication (IEC)/Advocacy Project, led by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The IEC Advocacy project is designed to educate communities, through the media, to improve social behavior. The Ministries of Health and Social Welfare and Education will also participate in the program.  

Minister Osa Osa Ecoro expressed the government's willingness to move the program to the public sector, since the largest investments to support it have been made by the government. This is part of a broader effort by the government to improve public health and education for its citizens. The Minister also advised the delegation on the renewal of equipment for the production of new radio and television programs, as well as training of community workers to improve the dissemination of the program's messages.

Ministry of Information General Secretary, Juan Mba Obono, IEC/Advocacy National Project Director, Fortunato Eko Nsogo and UNFPA Representative, Leo Heileman were also present at the meeting.