BY FIONA MOTSA
MBABANE– The United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) is looking to strengthen its programs to ensure death rates for mothers and children during childbirth are reduced.
Programmes have been put into place to ensure that by 2025 mother and child deaths are reduced by 50 per cent while also having improving programs for people living with disabilities.
Officer in Charge at UNFPA in Eswatini, Margaret Thwala revealed that (UNPF) has partnered with the Ministry of Health for 2023’s programs.
“We have partnered with the Ministry of Health to promote the program which aims at eliminating mother and child deaths during childbirth.
“All women even young girls who find themselves pregnant should not die because of pregnant. By 2025, we hope to have achieved a 50 per cent reduction rate on childbirth deaths.
“We are looking at how our current programs can be used to further improve the lives of people living with disabilities in Eswatini.
UNFP further established working relations with Junior Achievement for youth programs.
“We also have a program where we have partnered with Junior Achievement on programs regarding sexual reproductive health amongst the youth. We have found that programs regarding the youth tend to expand. There is money we give out to the youth through (JA) who are under the program where they attend classes on reproductive health, STIs, pregnancy and death,” said Thwala. The United Nations Population Fund has been at the forefront of advocating the youth projects which have yielded positive results over the years. The name of the program is called ‘Life Skills Education Project’ which has seen a reduction in pregnancy rates amongst the youth.
