UNFPA provides medical equipment for Northern women

The United Nations Population Fund( UNFPA)handed over medical equipment worth USD 210,000 to Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri at a ceremony held at the Governor's Office recently. The medical equipment will help meet the reproductive health needs of women and girls in the North, particularly those giving birth and their newborns, states a UNFPA press release.

The equipment will be distributed to hospitals and other health institutions in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mannar districts serving resettled communities. UNFPA Representative Lene K. Christiansen said at the handover ceremony that the UNFPA will help strengthen health institutions in the Northern Province to provide quality reproductive health services to ensure that the special needs of women and girls are looked after.

She said the UNFPA helps the resettled population in the North through the operation of mobile reproductive health clinics, offering prenatal and postnatal care, voluntary family planning, service and psychosocial counselling. Personal hygiene packs containing sanitary towels and other toiletries and maternity kits for pregnant women are also being distributed to help maintain personal hygiene.

Northern Province Health Secretary T. Raveenthiran, Northern Province Health Services Provincial Director Dr. R.S.Jude and Jaffna Regional Director of Health Services Dr.A. Ketheeswaran were also present on the occasion.