A Government that Cannot Afford Citizens
Yesterday, the Worldwide Organization for Women (WOW) hosted an event dedicated to the health of rural women as a challenge for governments and local communities. Rwanda was presented as an example of a country that relentlessly works to empower women. Dr. Nyirarukundo Shirley Randell , Managing Director of SRIA Rwanda Ltd., spoke of the results that on-the-ground efforts in Rwanda have had.
She began by explaining that Rwanda is one of the only African nations that will achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Between 2005 and 2010, Rwanda significantly decreased its poverty level and achieved its MDG for TB, Malaria, and HIV. Maternal mortality was reduced thanks to the provision of childbirth kits to rural women. Child mortality was also reduced significantly and women with HIV have given birth to healthy babies. The president of Rwanda has expanded free education of women to nine years and hopes to provide 12 years of free education for women by the end of his term. Dr. Randell attributes these victories to civil society and to the government.
What stood out to me the most was her claim that contraceptive use between 2005 and 2010 skyrocketed from 10 percent to 45 percent. Dr. Randell then proceeded to explain that the Catholic Church has instituted a majority of the schools and hospital in the countries, but still does not allow contraception. Because of this, Catholic clinics do not provide condoms and contraception “and there is nothing we can do about it.” So, she informed us, a government clinic is built next to each Catholic Clinic to provide contraception.
I thought this could be further explained so I asked Dr. Randell if the government, or her group, specifically target Catholic clinics or the women who go into Catholic clinics during the Q &A part of the presentation. Before I share what se said, I think it is worth mentioning that not only is the Catholic Church responsible for establishing many hospitals in Rwanda, but also close to 50% of Rwandans are practicing Catholics who trust and obey their church.*
Dr. Randell’s answer was very enlightening. She stated that culture is very constraining, that in Rwanda and in the Catholic Church the culture is still patriarchic. She also stated that Evangelical Christians are flooding Africa with their views about sexuality, something which I think can also be said about her own efforts. Dr. Randell said “we respect the religious belief.” She also said that the government respects that Catholics are under mandate of their leader. And though she might be right in claiming that the government “respects the religious belief”, I do think that deliberately placing a government clinic next to all Catholic health care constitutes targeting of these hospitals by the government.
She then explained the real reason for encouraging contraception. She stated that it is government policy to reduce the size of families from six kids to three because there is a “constant need if there are more children to have more education and healthcare” and the government can simply not afford it. Instead, the government creates clinics with condoms which are the best way to decrease family size. Whether or not the government should invest the money it uses to prevent children into an education system that can sustain more students I leave to your digression, but I do think that warning flags should be raised when governments officially institute such policies.
*http://cpn.nd.edu/conflicts-and-the-role-of-the-church/central-africa/the-churchs-role-in-peacebuilding-in-central-africa/the-struggle-for-peace-in-rwanda/
Another awesome blog Maria, the Catholic Church has done remarkable things in terms of building schools and hospitals not only in Africa, but in other parts of the world. Most notably, the Catholic Church today is growing faster than ever in parts of Latin American and America. Something which I find very interesting is the abundance of African clergy who come into America to evangelize and provide the sacraments. A church near by own home in Michigan has a priest who has come from Nigeria to do a PhD at Wayne State in Psychology and helps out at the 8:30 pm mass at the church. Why should African priests have to go into other parts of the world to assist in providing the sacraments? This is a testimony to the power of faith and the voice of truth. Moreover, it speaks to the essential point which faces the world today. Many people are living in physical form of poverty, many of which are in Rwanda and other parts of Africa, however, I believe millions more are living in spiritual poverty, which is more critical than a lack of break and water.
In closing, I would like to remind you of one notable African woman, one from Rwanda, who lived the horrors of the Rwandan genocide, Immaculee Ilibagiza. In her book, “Left to Tell” she speaks out about the horrors she faced actually living during the time of genocide in 1994. However, she has come to forgive the people who murdered her family Faith is not meant to be impoverishing or entrapping, rather it is meant to free one of their interior self drawing them closer to what is truth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT3RADnbMks&feature=player_embedded
Atually that is an interesting point, Zaid. One of the priests at my home parish is also from Nigeria as well as a priest at my school.