UNFPA Launches Multi-Year Initiative to Transform Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Somalia
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Staff Reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 22-10-2024, 03:34PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched a multi-year project designed to enhance access to quality, life-saving integrated sexual and reproductive health services, as well as comprehensive prevention and response measures for gender-based violence (GBV) in Somalia. This initiative was officially introduced during an inaugural event held in Mogadishu.
Funded by Korea’s International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the three-year project, titled “Programme to Provide Lifesaving and Integrated SRH and GBV Services in Humanitarian Settings in the Africa Region,” aims to improve access to essential sexual and reproductive health services and support for GBV in nations facing prolonged crises.
This project aligns with Somalia’s National Development Plan 2020-2024 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on enhancing the health and well-being of women and girls in humanitarian environments.
The initiative will also support UNFPA's transformative results by seeking to eliminate the unmet need for family planning, prevent maternal deaths, and eradicate gender-based violence and harmful practices.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Mary Otieno, the UNFPA Representative to Somalia, stated, “This project represents a critical step towards ensuring that women and girls in Somalia have access to the essential health services they deserve.”
Dr. Otieno further noted that the project’s services will extend to all regional states in Somalia, including Mogadishu, benefiting an estimated 540,000 individuals, primarily women and children. “By empowering communities with these resources, we are paving the way for a healthier future,” she added.
Joined virtually by Jang Hee Im, Director of the KOICA Kenya Office, he congratulated UNFPA on the launch of the project and praised the initiative's potential to support vulnerable groups. He highlighted his agency's commitment to empowering women and children in crises.
Mr. Im underscored KOICA's dedication to funding similar projects in other African countries, such as Mali, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, emphasizing that the agency has actively pursued partnerships across the continent since its establishment in 1991.
In his closing remarks, Mohamud Moalim Abdulle, Chairman of the SoDMA, affirmed his agency's key role in the UNFPA-led project. He emphasized that the ministries of aid in the regional states would support the Somali community, particularly women and children, expressing gratitude to UNFPA and KOICA for their meaningful initiative.
Somalia faces sexual and reproductive health challenges, including high maternal mortality rates and limited access to essential services. Gender-based violence is prevalent, especially in conflict areas, where stigma prevents help-seeking.
The UNFPA is addressing these issues through a new project aligned with Somalia’s National Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals. In partnership with KOICA, the initiative aims to improve integrated services and create lasting benefits for women and girls.
GAROWE ONLINE
