少数民族地区努力贯彻两纲

　　Since the two NPAs (2001-2010)_the National Program for Women's Development and the National Program for Children's Development_were promulgated in 2001, the government of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has done everything possible to implement the programs.

　　The government has promoted maternity and child health. In the past, many parts of Ningxia were underdeveloped. Those regions had weak economic bases and limited financial resources. In the southern mountainous area, all of the eight counties were poverty-stricken, and more than 70 percent of the needy women had been reduced to destitution by illness. After 2001, the government increased its investment in the promotion of maternity and child health. More than two million yuan (US $250,000) in auxiliary funds were spent to implement the project that was aimed at reducing the maternal mortality rate and eliminating tetanus among newborns, and 1.35 million yuan (US $169,000) was offered to the autonomous region's working committee on children and women as administrative or special funds. Moreover, the government appropriated money for the first survey involving the iron-deficiency anemia rate of pregnant and lactating women.

　　Traditionally, the locals in Ningxia didn't approve of giving birth in hospitals. In remote areas, many people even believed if a woman gave birth away from her home, then her family might not make a fortune. For this reason, the government took action, and began telling women: "It is dangerous to give birth to a child in a traditional way, so hospital delivery is the safest." Then, government departments at all levels launched powerful advocacy activities to help pregnant women and their family members understand the seriousness of the situation. Needy pregnant women in rural areas couldn't afford hospital deliveries, and most poverty-stricken regions had inadequate transportation infrastructure. To help needy pregnant women get to a hospital, the government formulated preferential policies and government departments at all levels took various measures_including establishing first-aid telephones, giving awards to escorts, and offering subsidies to hospitalized needy pregnant women.

　　By 2005, in Ningxia, 97.50 percent of pregnant and puerperal women could enjoy health care; the maternal mortality rate was reduced from 85.78 per 100,000, in 2000, to 43.70 per 100,000; and the rate of hospital deliveries for rural pregnant women increased from 48.80 percent, in 2000, to 68.01 percent. The three objectives set forth in the two NPAs (2001-2010) were met, ahead of schedule, in Ningxia.

　　Meanwhile, the government has paid attention to improving the educational level of local women and children, in accordance with the two NPAs (2001- 2010). The government has invested in the construction, reconstruction and extension of schools. The projects benefited all the villages in the eight counties of Ningxia's southern mountainous area.

HelpingVillage Women Cadres Improve Leadership

帮助村级女干部提高参政水平

　　To promote women's political participation at the grass-roots level, Dehua County, Fujian Province, is attaching importance to enhancing the quality of present village women cadres.

　　Firstly, the county often organizes village women cadres to participate in training courses, attend special lectures or see educational films, so they can constantly widen their knowledge and have a better understanding of their duties.

　　Secondly, the county regularly holds working exchanges for village women cadres. During these events, the women can talk freely about their own working methods and learn from the advanced experiences of others.

　　Thirdly, the county tries to create a favorable environment for rural women's political participation. Through various activities, many local people have had the opportunity to understand and suppor　village women cadres.

Government Officials Support Needy Students

政府官员资助贫困学生

　　Even though the nine-year compulsory education has been popularized in the GanziTibetAutonomousPrefecture, in SichuanProvince, a serious problem has emerged: Local needy top students cannot afford to receive higher education, even though they have been admitted to a senior middle school or a university.

　　According to a recent decision by the local government, an action plan was i m p l e m e n t e d t h roughout the autonomous prefecture to help needy top students finish their non-compulsory education. Leading cadres from the viceprefecture or prefecture level will each support one student or two students. Leading cadres at the vice-county or county level will each support one student. People from all segments of society, especially cadres from government departments, are encouraged to get involved.

Experienced Teachers Sent to Communities

资深教师进驻社区

　　Jiamusi, a city in HeilongjiangProvince, recently sent 182 experienced teachers to different communities of the city to become a parent school headmaster in the community.

　　Selected from urban primary and middle schools, the teachers were committed, in their assigned communities, to establishing archives for minors, visiting minors' families, training minors' parents, giving instructions after classes, and providing psychological education to minors.

　　Before formally entering the communities, the teachers were offered a training course. The initiative was expected to improve education, by jointing the efforts of school, family and society.

《中国妇女》英文月刊 2006.12

　Source:Office of NWCCW
　信息来源：国务院妇女儿童工作委员会办公室

　Executive Editor:ZHAO NING
　责任编辑：赵宁