FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 31 March 2023- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) procured modern reproductive health commodities with a value of US$ 576,000 to help end unmet need for family planning in Sierra Leone between January and March 2023. The commodities were handed over to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
The commodities include a range of contraceptives such as injectables, implants, condoms and pills. UNFPA supported the procurement and shipping of the commodities to Sierra Leone and delivery to the Central Medical Stores of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
In order to reach the goals of ending unmet need for family planning and ending preventable maternal deaths, UNFPA works to expand availability of quality assured contraceptives, commodities and life-saving maternal health drugs to women and girls, as well as to strengthen policies and systems to ensure access to these modern contraceptive and life-saving medicines at the last mile.
Access to family planning is critical to preventing unintended pregnancy and to reducing death and disability that result from complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Family planning is also central to promoting gender equality and reducing poverty, by empowering individuals and couples to decide if and when to have children, and how many children to have.
In Sierra Leone, UNFPA provides over 90% of national contraceptive requirements. In 2022, UNFPA supported the procurement of US$ 3.5 million worth commodities for the country, helping to avert 210,000 unintended pregnancies, 76,000 unsafe abortions and 1,700 maternal deaths.
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About UNFPA: UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA's mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services.
Media Contacts:
John Baimba Sesay | Web and Media Analyst | UNFPA Sierra Leone | Tel. +232 30953193 | e-mail: jsesay@unfpa.org
