The conference organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia and the Pacific Regional Office in collaboration with the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) focuses on ways to improve reproductive health services in the SAARC countries so as to be able to attain the Millennium Development Goals on significantly reducing maternal mortality rate and children mortality rate set by the United Nations.
“In South Asia nearly 200,000 women die each year due to pregnancy related complications. The deaths are preventable if we are committed to having effective mechanisms backed by favorable government policies and functioning health systems in place,” President Yadav said.
President Yadav, who has also previously served as health minister, claimed that the government had done a good job in addressing the health issues by setting up health facilities at the grassroots level since the restoration of democracy in 1990. However, the health sector was still beset with political problems. “Fortunately, we are back on track now,” said President Yadav, adding, “With help of international agencies and our resources we can now move ahead in leaps and bounds.”
Forty-six delegates from SAARC nations, including ministers, parliamentarians, health officials, media professionals, resource persons from Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Philippines, and several high ranking officials of the UNFPA and other international organizations, attended the function.
The conference will conclude on Thursday with the signing of a declaration on commitment to Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services and Commodity Security by the SAARC countries. The conference was chaired by Minister of State for Health and Population Khadga Bahadur Basyal Sarki.
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