Kigali, 18 March 2022, UNFPA handed over maternal health medical equipment, to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian health facilities to deliver quality Sexual and Reproductive Health and maternal health services to women and girls in humanitarian settings.

From July 2021, with funds from the Government and the people of Japan, UNFPA in partnership with AHA, Alight, and Save the Children, is implementing a one-year project entitled: “Strengthening Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Gender Based Violence Prevention and Response in humanitarian settings in the context of COVID-19 pandemic”. 

The project aims at strengthening the capacity of health facilities in humanitarian settings to deliver quality Maternal Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response services in the context of COVID-19. 

With the generous support from the Government of Japan, UNFPA handed over maternal health medical equipment to be used in Humanitarian settings

In particular, this project supports to avail additional spaces and equipment for quality provision of maternal health, sexual and reproductive health services while protecting women in reproductive health age using Sexual and Reproductive Health services and the frontline health workers. 

“The World is currently in an unpredictable situation, and vulnerable people are so often the victims of such situations including people in refugee camps. Rwanda is one of the countries that takes good care of refugees, this is why we decided to financially support all these efforts by stakeholders including UNFPA and other NGOs to ensure the wellbeing of refugees in the camps.” H.E Masahiro Imai, the Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda.

The equipment handed over to AHA, Alight, and Save the Children is worth $ 50,431.32 and includes: hospital beds, bed screens, trolley, stretchers, wheelchairs, Oxygen Concentrators and other crucial equipment for hospitals in humanitarian settings. It will equip safe houses that are being constructed in the refugee camps of Mahama and Kiziba with the generous support from People of Japan. 

“There are many people in refugee camps who need assistance in terms of healthcare. We are grateful for this support from UNFPA and The Government of Japan. These facilities will help a big number of women to access healthcare services.” SIBOMANA Marcel, the program manager and child rights governance at Save the Children Rwanda

The Ambassador of Japan and the UNFPA Representative handing over medical equipment that will contribute to strengthening the capacity of humanitarian health facilities to deliver quality SRH and maternal health services.

Since 2018, UNFPA & the Government of Japan have been collaborating to reduce maternal and child mortality in humanitarian settings in Rwanda. The Government of Japan supports UNFPA to implement SRH & GBV lifesaving interventions in six refugee camps in the country.

“UNFPA would like to thank the people of Japan and the Government of Japan for their generosity and continued support to UNFPA and humanitarian response in Rwanda. We are also grateful to all implementation partners with whom we share the same passion to save lives of women and girls in humanitarian settings” Kwabena Asante Ntiamoah, UNFPA Representative.

Representatives from AHA, Save the Children and Alight during the handover