MANY women lose access to family planning services during times of natural disasters because of transportation difficulties, access to locations, damage to facilities and perilous conditions.

Medical Services Pacific executive director Jennifer Poole said these factors led to unwanted pregnancy and therefore must be properly addressed.

“MSP programs are designed to directly respond to reproductive health needs in disaster,” Ms Poole said.

“All our interventions, at all levels and during phases of emergency response, are designed and implemented using a rights-based approach which is community-development focused and survivor centred.”

Ms Poole said during Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston the team conducted awareness sessions on reproductive health and family planning, birth preparedness, safe motherhood, youth services and child protection education.

“We conducted general outpatients care and lifesaving support and injury treatment and provided counselling that was carried out in groups and individually,” she said.

“Women are affected in many ways during a natural disaster such as the recent cyclone we experienced.”

Medical Services Pacific received funding from the Australian Government as part of its $23 million humanitarian assistance package to Fiji after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.