UNFPA Executive Director Visits Kenya to Highlight Maternal Health and Protection Needs of Women Affected by Drought

(PRWEB) September 02, 2011

Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is visiting refugee camps in Kenya to underscore the urgent needs of women affected by the famine in the Horn of Africa.

So far, 12.4 million people have been affected by severe drought in the Horn of Africa. In Somalia, the drought resulted in 3.7 million internally displaced people. The worlds largest refugee camp, Dadaab in Kenya, has seen its population soar close to 500,000.

Dr. Osotimehin will visit Dadaab refugee camps and the surrounding host communities in Garissa on 3 September. During his visit, he will underline to partners, government officials and stakeholders the importance of addressing the urgent needs of pregnant and lactating women, prevention of sexual violence and treatment of its survivors among refugees and host populations.

Health facilities in the affected regions suffer from shortages of medical supplies and trained health -care providers. The main gaps in the provision of reproductive health care include overstretched resources and lack of medical supplies and equipment.

Through local partners in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti, UNFPA is providing supplies, including reproductive health care kits, to hospitals, primary health-care facilities and communities. Emergency reproductive health kits have been distributed in Dadaab refugee camps and host communities, targeting approximately 615,000 people. Clean delivery kits are distributed to the most vulnerable pregnant women among affected communities to ensure clean and safe deliveries. The Fund has also trained midwives and other health workers and provided them with the necessary medical supplies for improved quality care. Over 20,000 hygiene kits are also being provided to most vulnerable women and girls in the region to cover their unique needs and maintain their dignity.

The way forward

Given the high levels of malnutrition and mortality, combined with the likelihood of increasing prices and a harsh dry season, the situation is likely to deteriorate over the coming months. During his visit, Dr. Osotimehin will call on the international community to:

UNFPA Executive Director Visits Kenya to Highlight Maternal Health and Protection Needs of Women Affected by Drought


(PRWEB) September 02, 2011 Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is visiting refugee camps in Kenya to underscore the urgent needs of women affected by the famine in the Horn of Africa.
So far, 12.4 million people have been affected...