BEIRA, Sofala - UNFPA and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) jointly with the Government of Mozambique today commemorated a new multi-year project to advance sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health in districts of Sofala Province heavily affected by Cyclone Idai.

The project, led by the Government of Mozambique, with support from UNFPA, will benefit more than 500,000 people, including women of reproductive age and adolescents, with a focus on central districts of Sofala (Beira, Dondo, Nhamatanda, and Buzi). The contribution from KOICA is $7 million USD with co-funding from UNFPA Mozambique of $1.55 million USD.

The launch ceremony was attended by the Secretary of State for Sofala, H.E. Ambassador of the Embassy of Republic of Korea, Country Director of KOICA Mozambique, UNFPA Mozambique’s Resident Representative, and project partners including the Ministry of Health (MISAU), Provincial Directorate of Health (DPS), Provincial Directorate of Gender, Child and Social Support (DPGCAS), local NGOs and professional organizations.

“Women are the backbone of society; providing them with health services is essential for the growth of our communities,” said the Secretary of State for Sofala Her Excellency, Stella Zeca Pinto Novo. “Cyclone Idai and other natural disasters have hit our health system hard. Let us continue to improve these services, and work together to see that all women and girls across the province of Sofala have the resources that they need to thrive.”

“Today's ceremony is also an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the project, to ensure its success and sustainability, as well as to raise public awareness of improving access to health services,” said H.E. Ambassador Won Sok Choi of the Republic of Korea. 

"More than half of all maternal deaths take place in countries affected by humanitarian crises and fragility, emphasizing the need for uninterrupted health and protection services for those who need it most," said UNFPA Mozambique Representative Bérangère Boëll. “We thank KOICA and the Republic of Korea for placing the health and protection of women and girls at the top of their agenda."

Health-based activities as part of the project include: the provision of medical and maternal health equipment for health facilities, and the installation of an operation theater in Dondo district for emergency obstetric and newborn care. 

The project will also support community dialogues and sensitization campaigns on the prevention of gender-based violence, train health care providers on the provision of family planning, antenatal and postnatal care services, and strengthen health facility-based GBV response capacities. To ensure continuity of services, ambulances and trucks will be provided to enable mobile health clinics to deliver urgent health and protection-based care, including with information on GBV referral pathways, to remote areas, such as resettlement centers.

Overall, the project focuses on the long-term recovery of the health system in Sofala Province, and contributes to national capacity to provide quality and continued services, including in natural disasters.

This project comes following the success of the ‘KIMCHI’ project - Korea Integrated Maternal Child Health Initiative - financed by KOICA, which provided support to the Government of Mozambique in the reduction of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, particularly in Cabo Delgado Province.

ABOUT KOICA

KOICA is Korea’s leading development cooperation agency to achieve global social values. KOICA contributes to the advancement of international cooperation through various projects that build friendly and collaborative relationships and mutual exchanges between Korea and developing countries and support the economic and social development in developing countries.  

Follow KOICA Mozambique on Facebook, and visit the KOICA website.

ABOUT UNFPA

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, aims to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA is the lead agency on both gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health during humanitarian emergencies. 

Follow UNFPA Mozambique on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and visit our website.

For more information, please contact:

KOICA Mozambique: Youngin Kim, yokim@koica.go.kr

UNFPA Mozambique: Karlina Salu, jsalu@unfpa.org  +258 8405 60246 / Jessica Lomelin, lomelin@unfpa.org +258 85 327 9028