Nairobi, 7 February 2017 - The Government of Japan announced on 31 January that it has granted 1.067 million US dollars to UNFPA Somalia to support programmes aimed at health system strengthening in Somalia with emphasis on returnees and marginalised communities. The programme focuses on accelerating reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality and related morbidity in Somalia.

The UNFPA Representative, Mr. Nikolai Botev, thanked the Japanese Government for being a reliable partner in the quest to ensure that no woman or child dies during birth. He said the project is expected to reach 200,000 Somali women of reproductive age, including adolescents in the target locations.

“Reproductive, maternal, neonatal and adolescent health care needs to be improved and made available to all girls and women in Somalia. This is to be achieved through strengthening the overall Somali health systems, making it accessible and affordable for the Somali women and girls, especially those in vulnerable and marginalised population groups,” said Mr. Botev.

Mr. Botev reiterated UNFPA’s commitment to support increased availability and use of integrated sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, maternal health and HIV, that are gender-responsive and meet human rights standards for quality of care and equity in access.

Somalia has one of the highest maternal deaths in the world with one out of every 22 women dying due to pregnancy related causes.

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UNFPA inquiries: Please contact UNFPA Communications Specialist, Ms. Pilirani Semu- Banda; semu-banda@unfpa.org