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INFORMATION SERVICE
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Special Issue 2008
Issue of Population in Africa must be Addressed
Prime Minister of Japan and Chairman of AFPPD, Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, raises ICPD issues at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV)
On 28th May 2008 at the Opening Session of TICAD IV in Yokohama, Japan, Prime Minister Mr. Yasuo Fukuda addressed representatives from 52 African and donor countries and officials from the United Nations, and raised the importance of population and related issues to Africa’s development.
He emphasized that the “issue of population in Africa is one that must be addressed for the development of the economy and the stability of society. It has a profound effect on the attainment of the MDGs, with impacts on poverty, education, gender, the environment, and reproductive health.”
He also mentioned his role as Chair of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) by saying that “I have for some time chaired the dialogue among Asian and African national assembly members that share a common awareness of the [population] issue and have continued my efforts to promote exchanges among these members.”
Prime Minister Fukuda further noted that this year marks the halfway point as we work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and outlined a range of measures that Japan will be undertaking to assist Africa reach the MDG targets.
“It is impossible for us to close our eyes to the difficulties our African friends are facing, including the problem of infectious diseases. Japan intends to extend a hand to our African friends who are striving hard. Let all of us renew our determination to achieve the MDGs.”
The range of initiatives outlined by Prime Minister Fukuda that Japan will take in this regard, include training one hundred thousand people in Africa over the next five years as health workers, and expanding to Africa, Japan’s ‘Maternal and Child Health Handbook’, which has already been introduced in Indonesia and other Asian countries and delivered good results.
Japanese Parliamentarians
Earlier on 13th May 2008, a delegation from the Japanese Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP), comprising Members of Parliament Ms. Kayoko Shimizu, Mr. Chiaki Takahashi, Ms. Chieko Nohno and Ms. Wakako Hironaka, along with Dr. Kusumoto, Executive Director of the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), met with Prime Minister Fukuda and urged him to highlight the issue of population and reproductive health at TICAD and the G8 Conference.
