NEW DELHI - The Asia-Pacific region is the most disaster-prone region in the world. This includes India, which has its fair share of recurring disasters throughout the country.

It is estimated that in any displaced population almost 4 per cent of the population are pregnant women, 15 per cent of whom are likely to experience potentially life-threatening obstetric complications. To address sexual reproductive needs health in the aftermath of a disaster, the National Disaster Management Authority and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, have developed a service package to help prioritize these issues.

In disasters, vulnerability to serious sexual and reproductive health conditions increases significantly.  Mothers are more likely to die in childbirth; newborns are at greater risk of life-threatening diseases, and sexual and gender-based violence often increase.

The Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual Reproductive Health in Disasters in India is a manual intended to help humanitarian workers address these and other issues such as prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, family planning, safe abortion, and young people’s specific needs in disaster preparedness and response.

Through capacity building, support for sexual and reproductive health service implementation, and targeted advocacy, the service package aims to increase the availability of sexual reproductive health services to disaster-affected populations, especially women and girls.

The aim is to ensure that districts and states throughout India have the Minimum Initial Service Package integrated in every health plan, in every disaster management plan and in every department’s plan document and budget.

India - Prioritizing Sexual and Reproductive Health in Disaster Response

A Message from Priyanka Chopra