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Sexual and reproductive health was given an international consensus definition at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994.  At its core is the promotion of reproductive health, voluntary and safe sexual and reproductive choices for individuals and couples, including decisions on family size and timing of marriage.  Sexuality and reproduction are vital aspects of personal identity and are fundamental to human well being fulfilling relationships within diverse cultural contexts.

Sound reproductive health is integral to the vision that every child is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free from HIV, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity.  Implicit in this vision is the idea that men and women will be able to exercise their rights to information on and access to safe, affordable and acceptable methods of fertility regulation as well as quality health care services.  The latter will enable women to experience safe pregnancy and childbirth, across the world. 

Key interventions of UNFPA in India:

Expanding choices and quality of services in family planning: Towards advancement of choice and rights-based family planning in the country, UNFPA supported the Government of India (GoI) in developing its vision and fulfilling its commitments towards the FP2030 global partnership. UNFPA supported the introduction of hormonal injectable contraceptive (Antara injection) and continues to support the national government in expanding the basket of choices through support for the introduction of subcutaneous hormonal injectable contraceptives and Implants.

 

Strengthening the Midwifery Initiative: UNFPA has supported the MoHFW’s midwifery services initiative by developing strategy and guidelines, strengthening the midwifery component in nursing education and technical support in the operationalization of National Midwifery Training Institutes (NMTIs). UNFPA’s support resulted in establishing two NMTIs at Patiala and Udaipur, which are the third and fourth in the country, respectively.

 

Ensuring comprehensive reproductive health services within the gamut of Universal Health Coverage: UNFPA’s high-quality technical assistance on maternal health, family planning and adolescent health in the UNFPA focus states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan has resulted in improved availability and quality of services. Over 90 per cent of health facilities are providing at least 5 reversible contraceptives and safe delivery services in the 14 priority districts supported by UNFPA.

 

Integrated SRH-HIV Services: Learnings from UNFPA's pilot project of providing integrated SRH and HIV services in nine districts of Gujarat helped replicate the model in the states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.