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As per an official release, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recognized India’s extraordinary progress in advancing Maternal Health and Family Planning.
For this great achievement, the Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr. Natalia Kanem has felicitated the Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava by presenting her with a plaque and certificate. Dr Kanem has underlined UNFPA’s unwavering commitment to partnering with India toward women’s health and well-being.
Dr. Kanem commended India’s monumental efforts in reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) by an impressive 70% between 2000 and 2020. It has positioned the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of an MMR below 70 before 2030. This remarkable progress has saved the lives of thousands of women across the country, particularly those from marginalized communities.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing a number of programs to improve maternal health outcomes to achieve zero preventable maternal deaths. These include assured quality and respectful maternity care under the “Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan Yojana (SUMAN)”, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) and the Midwifery Services Initiative.
India’s Family Planning program has reached new heights, with the Total Fertility Rate reduced below the replacement level (TFR-2). Over the years, UNFPA has played a key role in expanding the basket of contraceptive choices, including the recent inclusion of Subdermal Implants and injectable Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA).
The Ministry’s leadership in global reproductive health forums was acknowledged with India holding key positions in the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and the Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) global partnership.
As UNFPA commemorates 50 years of partnership with the Government of India, this event marks a significant moment in their shared mission to ensure the health and well-being of every woman and young person in India as the nation progresses toward the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
During the meeting, Dr. Kanem reaffirmed UNFPA’s steadfast commitment to supporting India’s efforts in advancing the health and well-being of women, girls, and young people.
It was briefed in the presence of Additional Secretary and Mission Director Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, National Health Mission; Joint Secretary, Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) Smt. Meera Srivastava; Asia Pacific Regional Director for UNFPA Mr. Pio Smith; and, UNFPA India Representative, Ms. Andrea M. Wojnar.
The agency began operating in 1969 as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. Its name was changed to the United Nations Population Fund in 1987, but the original acronym remains.
The goal of UNFPA is to ensure sexual and reproductive rights and choices for all, especially women and young people, so that they can access high-quality sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, maternal health care, and comprehensive sexuality education.
Dr. Indu Grewal, Additional Commissioner (Family Planning/Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques/ABP), Dr. Pawan Kumar, Additional Commissioner (Maternal Health & Immunization), Dr. Zoya Ali Rizvi, Deputy Commissioner (Nutrition & Adolescent Health), delegates from UNFPA and other senior officials from the Ministry were also present at the event.
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