11th of July– World population Day

In the year 2007 the Kyrgyz Republic adopted a Law “On reproductive Rights” where the state ensures reproductive health services to all and the observance of the rights to reproductive health by broadening the access to reproductive health and family planning services. One of the priority tasks of the “Manas Taalimi” national programme is to reduce maternal and infantile deaths. The improvement of maternal health is dependant upon the introduction of safe and effective methods of family planning.

Population and reproductive health issues were discussed on the press conference held in press conference hall in the UN House in Kyrgyzstan. The Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Madamin Karataev announced some statistical data on maternal and infertile death in the country for the past year and the first half of the current year. Ms. Gulnara Kadyrkulova, UNFPA Assistant Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic briefed about the event and UNFPA Executive Director official statement on World Population Day 2008. Among other participants of the press conference was also the representative of the Reproductive Health Alliance (NGO) Ms. Galina Chirkina.  

44 representatives of Mass Media (international and national TV, radio, newspapers, internet media and etc.) attended this event and drew their attention to the occasion and the issues it addressed.

Another event also took place on this day. An analytical talk show on popular TV channel was also conducted in collaboration with the UNFPA in Kyrgyzstan. The TV show named “Maidan” on channel 5 focused its interest on the issue of Family Planning. The guests that participated on the 3 part TV talk-show were the representatives of various organizations such as the Ministry of Health, NGO’s, Parliament, religious organizations and UNFPA in Kyrgyzstan. Here the participants answered the most relevant questions asked both by the journalist and the audience by telephone as the programme was aired live.

A live survey by telephone was also conducted during each of the three 40 minutes long airings of the programme. The poll question put forward: “Is family planning needed?” gathered more than 4000 respondents. Approximately 82 % of them answered the question positively and the rest where sure that there is no need for family planning. This live poll served as great feed back for some professionals in their research and data collection.   

Also this day served as the beginning of a large media campaign of social video trails on popular TV channel all over the Kyrgyz Republic. The United Nations Population Fund launched the first social video trail on the occasion of the World Population Day on the 11th of July which served as the beginning for the campaign that will consist of 5 social video trails planned to be aired for the rest of the current year. The video ad is being aired on three most popular channels covering all of the seven regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. The other four videos are planned to focus on issues such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and youth, gender equality and sustainable development.
All of these events dedicated to the World Population Day 2008 and the theme of Family Planning were supported by the billboard posters installed in four central spots in the capital of the country in Bishkek.