CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Addressing Low Access to Reproductive Health for Indigenous Women
IRIN reported on 1 March on indigenous women's difficult access to reproductive health services. A joint Health Ministry/UNFPA study on indigenous people's reproductive health reports that only 4% of indigenous women give birth in health centres, against 94% for other women. 37% indigenous women attend antenatal care, while 94% of other women do. UNFPA Representative David Lawson explains that poverty, lack of education, lack of access to health services are major problems, and that comprehensive culturally-sensitive reproductive health care services, including family planning adapted to the needs of indigenous peoples, can make a difference. An emergency action plan (2013-2014) is being developed by government, the UN and indigenous peoples to address these and other such critical issues. Read in English: IRIN