Sweden supports UNFPA Somalia with additional 70 MSEK for improved maternal and new-born health and the fight against FGM
Sweden has contributed an additional 70 Million Swedish Krona to the UNFPA Somalia Country Programme of Cooperation 2018-2020 to scale-up reproductive, maternal and new-born health, the fight against harmful practices including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and empowerment of young people in Somalia.
Millions of women and girls in Somalia remain at great risk of maternal mortality and FGM especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services and hampered the efforts to effectively respond to gender-based violence. Maternal mortality in Somalia remains high with 1 in 20 women aged 15 expected to die of pregnancy or birth-related complications by age 49.
The Swedish Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia His Excellency Mr. Staffan Tillander said Sweden remains committed to ensuring better lives for women and children in Somalia:
“We’re pleased to provide support to Somalia through UNFPA, an organisation that has a long-standing record in addressing the severe health needs of women and girls and helps re-build the health system in Somalia,” said Mr. Tillander.
UNFPA Somalia Representative Mr. Anders Thomson expressed gratitude to the Government of Sweden saying the UN agency is dedicated to working with the Government of Somalia towards achieving the goals of ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal death, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
“The risks women and girls face continue to rise especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic. We urgently need to upscale services to ensure that we reach out to everyone including those in hard-to-reach areas with services to protect their health and safety. The funding from the Government of Sweden is, therefore, coming at the right time when these essential services are needed most,” said Mr. Thomsen.
Sweden is the largest donor to the UNFPA Country Programme of Cooperation in Somalia, having with the additional 70 Million Swedish Krona contributed with a total of 240 Million Swedish Krona over the three-year period 2018-2020.
