SANAA (Debriefer)--The Netherlands has provided $7 million to the United Nations Population Fund to provide life-saving emergency reproductive health medicines and supplies across Yemen in the next four years, the Fund has said in a press release.
The new contribution will support the procurement of contraceptives and life-saving medicines that are needed to prevent major causes of maternal and new-born deaths in Yemen, UNFPA said. It will also help to strengthen the supply chain and logistical systems that are needed to improve reproductive healthcare in the country, it said.
In the past two years, the Netherland's support has contributed to the reduction in stock-outs of essential reproductive health medicines and helped to reach over 300,000 women with contraceptives, according to the statement.
“This timely contribution from the Kingdom of Netherlands will serve as a lifeline for millions of women and girls in Yemen, at a time when many of them are being internally displaced, facing increasing reproductive health needs, and at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19,” said Nestor Owomuhangi, UNFPA’s Representative to Yemen. “As a direct result of this contribution, we will witness fewer maternal and new-born deaths, and reduced unwanted pregnancies across the country.”
UNFPA is the single source of essential reproductive health medicines for the country at present, and provides over 90% of the contraceptives used in public facilities throughout the country.
Nearly 70% of its reproductive health programme in Yemen has been suspended since May 2020 due to a shortage of funding.
To keep reaching the most vulnerable women and girls, it requires $100.5 million in 2020, it said, adding that only 62% of the funding has been received.
