UNFPA Boss: Access to Family Planingg Reduces Maternal Mortality

UNFPA Boss, Ndeye Rose Sarr

Group Picture of Stakeholders 

Ndeye Rose Sarr, The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative has reminded all stakeholders advocating and promoting for the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of Women, Girls and adolescent youth that access to Family Planning Services reduces Maternal and Infant Mortality.

She was speaking during the SMART advocacy workshop organized by her office in collaboration with UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office held at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Cape Point Bakau from 28^th-31^st May 2024.

The workshop aims to strengthen advocacy around UNFPA supplies’ new financing model, which supports countries in increasing domestic financing for quality-assured Reproductive Health and Family Planning Commodities.

“Family planning saves lives by preventing maternal deaths and reducing infant mortality. Access to family planning services can prevent up to one-third of all maternal deaths and reduce infant mortality by up to 10%,” she said.

She added that, in a 2022 analysis, UNFPA estimated that every dollar invested in family planning in developing countries yields a return of US$8.40. She said Investing in family planning generates significant economic returns, promotes sustainable development by managing population growth, and fosters healthier communities.

“Family planning is not just a health initiative; it is a cornerstone of sustainable development and human rights. The ability for individuals and couples to freely decide on the number and spacing of their children is essential for the health, well-being, and prosperity of families and communities worldwide,” she said.

Madam Sarr stated that, family planning empowers women by giving them control over their reproductive health choices, thereby, enabling them to pursue education and work opportunities, ultimately contributing to their families' economic security and breaking the cycle of poverty. She said given the transformative impact of family planning, governments’ play a crucial role in ensuring access to reproductive health information and services, thereby upholding fundamental human rights.

 

She said, UNFPA's new family planning strategy, "Expanding Choices Ensuring Rights in a Diverse and Changing World," reflects their commitment to the 2030 agenda.  She said, The UNFPA Supplies Partnership is its flagship thematic fund focused on expanding access to contraceptives and maternal health medicines. She added that by working closely with governments and partners, the Supplies Partnership aims to ensure that all women and girls have access to a range of reproductive health commodities whenever they need them. She said this includes the Match Fund, which allows UNFPA to match domestic contributions for reproductive health, family planning commodities, and the introduction of a product subsidization model (2023-2030) that will see UNFPA and governments sharing the cost of program-funded supplies.

She said this strategy adopts a broader view, emphasizing gender equality and human rights to address the unmet need for family planning across diverse contexts. Ultimately, it aims to achieve universal access to family planning in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

She said, the workshop aims to build the capacity of a coalition of strategic actors to use advocacy approaches that encourage country contributions and funding for a range of high-quality commodities, while also supporting policies and systems to make these available for all women and girls who need them. Equity, quality, and choice in modern contraceptive methods and services are at the program’s core.

“As policymakers, healthcare providers, educators, and advocates, we have a responsibility to ensure that family planning services are accessible, affordable, and of high quality. We must invest in comprehensive education and outreach programs to dispel myths and break down barriers. We must ensure that family planning is integrated into the national health budget and development plans,” she said.

She said, the Gambia has made commitments to FP2020/FP2030 to ensure an uninterrupted supply of family planning commodities at all levels of care, to increase the contraceptive prevalence rate, and reduce unmet need in the country. She said, the commitment needs to be fulfilled by the government, and as policymakers and health providers, they have a significant role to play.

“I call on you to take advantage of this workshop to develop actionable advocacy strategies that will promote investment and allocation of financing for family planning, ensuring that every individual has access to and the means to make informed choices about their reproductive health. By prioritizing family planning, we invest in the future of our children, our communities, and our planet. Let us commit today to making family planning a cornerstone of our efforts to build a healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable world,” she said.

Babanding Sabally, the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health said, the UNFPA has been one of the leading supporters when it comes to Reproductive and Maternal Life Saving Drugs in the Gambia. He said al l the gains registered by the Government in Reproductive Health Supply Chain is attributed to the UNFPA.

DPS Sabally highlighted the importance of partnerships which is enshrined in the National Health Policy 2021-2030. He said the Ministry look forward to partnerships that will contribute to quality health care delivery in the Gambia. He said the Ministry is committed to whatever resolution that will be realized from the SMART Advocacy Workshop. He said they will also welcome innovative ways to increase access to medicine and medicinal products especially, Family Planning Commodities.

Matthew Cummins Social Policy and Health Economic Advisor UNFPA West and Central Regional Office, said, “if we can manage to address the unmet need for Family Planning and ensure that every woman and adolescent girl have access to Family Planning Commodities, we can deliver so many transformational benefits to the Gambia.

He added that by doing this “we can prevent Maternal Mortality, unsafe abortions, ensure that the adolescent girl completes her education and women can take up economic opportunities outside the household, thereby becoming productive”.

He said if the unmet need for modern Contraceptives can be addressed, there will be no need for so many obstetricians, midwives, and emergency support and big savings will be made that can be channeled to other priorities in the Health sector like immunization.