Sudan and UNFPA Discusses Support for Maternal, Child, and Midwifery Health

Geneva – Sudanhorizon
In Geneva and on the sidelines of his participation in the 79th World Health Assembly, the Sudanese Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, met with the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mr. Beau Smith, and the Director of the Fund’s Programme Division, Ms. Julia.
The two sides discussed cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Health and UNFPA in the areas of maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, support for midwives, provision of essential health supplies, and responding to the needs of women and girls affected by the war. The meeting was also attended by Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Hassan Hamid, and several members of the Federal Ministry of Health delegation.
The Minister expressed his appreciation for the support UNFPA has provided to Sudan since the early days of the crisis, emphasizing that women’s and children’s health has been a priority in the Ministry’s health response plan, along with providing maternal and newborn health supplies, supporting midwives, and ensuring the continuity of maternal and child health services.
The Minister noted that Sudan is gradually transitioning from the emergency humanitarian response phase to the early recovery and health system reconstruction phase, particularly with the return of state institutions to the capital, Khartoum, and the return of large numbers of citizens to their home regions.
The Minister of Health emphasized the importance of supporting midwives as a cornerstone in reducing maternal and newborn mortality and ensuring safe and clean childbirth. He explained that Sudan has a broad base of qualified midwives through the University of Health Sciences and its branches in various states.
The meeting also addressed the importance of developing midwifery training curricula, strengthening maternal and newborn mortality surveillance, supporting essential health supplies, supply chains, and the cold chain, as well as expanding health, psychological, and social care services for survivors of gender-based violence.
For her part, Dr. Alaa Mudathir, Director of the General Directorate of International Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, affirmed that the support provided by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is not measured solely in numbers, but rather in the lives saved and the dignity of women preserved. She called for increased international advocacy for Sudan on issues related to women, mothers, and children.
For his part, Mr. Beau Smith affirmed the United Nations Population Fund’s commitment to continuing its partnership with the Sudanese government and the Federal Ministry of Health, and to supporting Sudan’s efforts in providing services to internally displaced persons and returnees, and strengthening sexual and reproductive health, maternal, and child health services.
The UN official has commended Sudan’s focus on midwifery, emphasizing that midwives are a cornerstone of the Fund’s work and that supporting them at the community level contributes to expanding access to services, including psychosocial support for women and girls.
Smith also announced the Fund’s readiness to support Sudan in modernizing midwifery curricula by providing access to the new model curricula developed by the International Confederation of Midwives, and to explore opportunities to support Sudan in maternal and newborn health supplies and improve access to essential goods through procurement and consolidation mechanisms.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue coordination between the Federal Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund to strengthen maternal and child health services, develop midwifery programs, support supplies and cold chains, enhance maternal mortality surveillance, and expand care services for survivors of gender-based violence.

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