New Delhi, 7th October 2024 — Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), recognized India’s extraordinary progress in advancing maternal health and family planning. Dr. Kanem, felicitated Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Health Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, and underlined UNFPA’s unwavering commitment to partnering with India towards women’s health and wellbeing.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India is implementing a number of programmes to improve maternal health outcomes toward achieving zero preventable maternal deaths. These include assured quality and respectful maternity care under the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan Yojana(SUMAN), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) and the Midwifery Services Initiative.
Joined by Ms. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission; Ms. Meera Srivastav, Joint Secretary - RCH; Mr. Pio Smith, Asia Pacific Regional Director for UNFPA; and Ms. Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative, Dr. Kanem commended India’s monumental efforts in reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) by an impressive 70% between 2000 and 2020, positioning the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of an MMR below 70 before 2030. This remarkable progress has saved the lives of thousands of women across the country, particularly those from marginalized communities.
India’s Family Planning program has reached new heights, with the Total Fertility Rate reduced to below the replacement level (TFR-2). Over the years, UNFPA has played a key role in expanding the basket of contraceptive choices, including the recent inclusion of Subdermal Implants and injectable Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA).
The Ministry’s leadership in global reproductive health forums was acknowledged, with India holding key positions in the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and the Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) global partnership.
During the meeting, Dr. Kanem reaffirmed UNFPA’s steadfast commitment to supporting India’s efforts in advancing the health and well-being of women, girls, and young people.
As UNFPA commemorates 50 years of partnership with the Government of India, this event marks a significant moment in their shared mission to ensure the health and well-being of every woman and young person in India as the nation progresses toward the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
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About UNFPA:
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA promotes reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal healthcare, and comprehensive sexuality education.
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