The high rate of maternal deaths in Lesotho (566/100 000 livebirths) featured highly when UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund Representative to Lesotho Mr Innocent Modisaotsile paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health Honourable Selibe Mochoboroane at the Ministry of Health Headquarters in Maseru.
Both the Representative and the Honourable Minister expressed concern on the high maternal mortality rate in the country saying birth should be celebratory and should not be a death sentence. The Representative assured the Minister that UNFPA is working with other United Nations (UN) agencies in efforts to thwart the high rate of maternal deaths.
He reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to support implementation of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) programs including reduction of the unmet need for family planning and Early and Unintended Pregnancies by, among others, ensuring that young people have access to information and family planning supplies to protect themselves.
“We are also concerned about the high rate of Gender Based Violence in all of its different dimensions in Lesotho and we look forward to working together to address these challenges,” he pointed out.
A 2015 study has revealed that over 86% of Basotho women and girls have experienced Gender Based Violence at one point or another in their lives.
In the same vein, the Honourable Minister emphasised the need for all efforts to be undertaken to ensure that no woman ever dies when giving birth.
He underscored the importance of capacity building for Doctors and Midwives, whilst also highlighting the importance of strengthening waiting mothers’ homes especially in the hard to reach areas where pregnant women sometimes have to walk for more than five (5) hours to reach a health facility.
This year, UNFPA is beginning the eighth Country Program of assistance to the Kingdom of Lesotho (2024 – 2028). Focus will be on, among others, ensuring that health systems, communities and institutional capacities are strengthened to provide quality comprehensive SRHR information and services to the public.
Furthermore, high on UNFPA’s agenda this year will also be marking 30 years of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) which adopted a Program of Action that had a vision for achieving people-centred development, through provision of universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services.
Prior to the courtesy visit, the Representative had presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Honourable Lejone Mpotjoane.
