A NATIONAL consultation on advancing Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health (SRMNAH) for women, adolescents and youth is expected to begin by early 2026.
This was confirmed by the Director and Representative of the Pacific United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Bidisha Pillai, after launching the SRMNAH project yesterday.
Ms Pillai said the New Zealand Government’s $5.6million funding was crucial in bringing the regional initiative to life.
“We really have to invest quite a bit on strengthening the quality of care that women and girls are receiving when they go to hospitals to deliver their babies,” Ms Pillai said.
“That includes trained staff, the right equipment, and reproductive health commodities. So that is something we’ll be tackling through this project.”
She said the project would also target teenage and unintended pregnancies, HIV prevention, and capacity building for health workers.
“Young people who are not aware or have access to services often end up in unplanned pregnancies. That’s something we also want to reduce by strengthening services for adolescents and youth.”
Ms Pillai said the project would include specific interventions for HIV, including improved access to testing and prophylactic treatment, needle and syringe programs to support people who inject drugs, youth-friendly health services across 130 health facilities, and improved training and equipment for nurses and midwives.
“We’ve launched it now, and we’re already going to be starting the rollout.”
