BELARUS: National Reproductive Health Strategy Under Development
TUT.BY reported on 7 June that the Ministry of Health began developing a national reproductive health strategy in Belarus. A working group has been set up and a two-day meeting concerning the future strategy began on 7 June. International UNFPA consultant Godfrey Walker and the Reproductive Health adviser of UNFPA EECA regional office arrived in Minsk to speak at the meeting. According to UNFPA Programme Associate Tatyana Pronko, “the national reproductive health strategy is first of all necessary to develop systematic approach to reproductive health services and define the ways various medical organizations can collaborate to improve these services.” Read in Russian: Tut.by
TANZANIA: Maternal Mortality Rates Still High
The Citizen reported on 7 June that the government has reported that more efforts are required to reduce maternal and child mortality rates which are still high. While the government's efforts to combat malaria have relatively paid off, it reveals that its performance in maternal and child deaths were still a big problem. UNFPA Representative Julitta Onabanjo said about 94 per cent of women were receiving antenatal care from a health professional at least once during their pregnancy, according to the newly released 2010 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. "More births are taking place in health facilities and are assisted by health professionals with proper equipments, medicines and supplies and this has helped to reduce the occurrence and severity of obstetric and new born complications," said Dr. Onabanjo. Read: The Citizen
SUDAN: UNFPA Stresses Need For Family Planning to Youth In South
Radio Miraya’s morning talk show, ‘Bedna’ featured a discussion with UNFPA staff on 7 June. Mary Juan Marle, Alexander Dimiti and Fikru Zeleke from UNFPA discussed family planning with talk show host Lubna Abdalla Lasu, and answered questions from the audience. The UNFPA team explained why family planning is crucial to fight the high maternal mortality rates, and discussed the link between family planning and poverty. “If a mother plans when she gives birth to a child, she will also be able to plan how to educate herself and engage in productive work,” Ms. Marle explained. “The problem is that women have too many children, too frequently, and too early. Unplanned pregnancy often results in school drop-out, and those girls will probably never go back to school. They will not be economically secure later in life.”
NIGERIA: UNFPA, Others Sign Pact on Reproductive Health
The Guardian reported on 7 June that UNFPA and the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at increasing access to quality reproductive health and family planning services for women, men and young people in Nigeria. Read: The Guardian
MALI: UNFPA Donations Support Reproductive Health Commodity Security
L’Essor reported on 7 June that UNFPA donated medical equipment to the government of Mali to support its efforts in reproductive health commodity security. Among the items donated were eight blood donor mobile mini-buses specifically designed to collect blood at the community level and to serve as ambulances for the reference of high risk pregnant women. The ceremony was chaired by the President of the Republic of Mali in the presence of the Minister of Health, other government officials and representatives from Development Partners, including UN agencies. UNFPA Representative Makane Kane declared that the mobile units would not only contribute to increasing the number of voluntary blood donors but also to reducing maternal mortality because hemorrhage accounts for 30 to 35 per cent of maternal deaths in Mali where blood is not readily available in most of the health facilities. The President thanked UNFPA for its continued support for strengthening the national health system. Read in French: L'Essor