UNFPA Donates Reproductive Health Supplies to MOHW

Today, the United Nations Population Fund donated several boxes of reproductive health supplies to the Ministry of Health. The handover ceremony took place this morning at the National Vaccine Storage Facility in Belmopan. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on the scene to find out how this donation will help bolster Belize’s support in reproductive health.

 

Britney Gordon. Reporting

Earlier this year, Belize launched the ‘Leave No One Behind: The Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy Project’ to tackle the high rates of teen pregnancies by promoting the use of contraceptives. Today, as part of this initiative, the United Nations Population Fund donated a range of contraceptive methods to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. U.N.F.P.A. Program Officer Mackeva Neal was present to highlight the importance of this contribution.

 

Mackeva Neal, Program Officer, U.N.F.P.A.

“What is so unique about this project is that for every year that the project is being implemented, there is a component that speaks specifically to the procurement of much needed SRH commodities. So today is the outcome of year one. Of that project component. So we are very excited to be able to present to the Ministry of Health this as well as to strengthen the partnership. I would say their mandate is perfectly aligned with that, with U.N.F.P.A. in ensuring that there is z maternal death, there is unmet need for family planning and to strengthen SRH services and commodities as well.”

 

The donation includes a variety of sexual reproductive health supplies like contraceptive pills, condoms, and IUDs. These will be distributed nationwide, with a focus on Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo Districts. Dr. Natalia Beer, the Maternal and Child Health Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Health, shared more insights on the Ministry’s collaboration with UNFPA.

 

Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal & Child Health Technical Advisor, MOHW

“These products having them accessible at all health facilities help us to reduce maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. And we also have in place the postpartum contraception. So every female that assists to hospitals for delivery, and they receive counseling and if they accept, they walk out with a contraceptive method. And we prefer to encourage women to use lung acting reversible contraceptives, because it takes a longer time.  Compare, let’s say, let’s say the pill.  Between the pins and the implant, we promote more the implant. Getting the implant, you can retrieve it  or remove it after three years. Whereas the pins is daily and require a little bit more effort.”

The UNFPA also supported Belize’s healthcare workers by organizing a workshop focused on managing reproductive care supplies. This workshop, led by a consultant from Kenya, aims to address some of the key concerns of the Ministry and UNFPA.

 

Mackeva Neal

“One of those that came out very strongly from our engagement with the ministry was that there tends to be stockouts of Communities SRH commodities to be specific in certain parts of the country what we did, we came up to the decision that it would be beneficial for the country with the Ministry of Health as a partner to partner with U.N.F.P.A. to host a two-day training that looks at the Reproductive Health Commodity Strategies training. This is a countrywide training that includes persons from the different regions, from the four regions who has a responsibility for ensuring that their SRH, essential SRH commodities in their regional offices for distribution and accessibility to patients, patrons, clients, et cetera.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.