The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, have signed a compact to co-finance the procurement of reproductive health commodities and strengthen the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services to the value of the value of USD $754,000 or Lesotho Loti (LSL) 13,300,560.00.
In addition to the Compact, UNFPA will provide a further $596,000 in matching funds to add to the $754,000.00. This brings the total investment to USD1,345,500 or Lesotho Loti:25,322,310.
Lesotho has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies globally, with the adolescent birth rate of 206/1000 adolescent girls and young women aged 15 – 19 years of age. It has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the SADC region at 618/100,000 deliveries, the majority of which are adolescent girls and young women. The unmet need for family planning in Lesotho is high at 18% compared to 11% internationally, while the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate stands at 60%.
Under the compact, the Government of Lesotho, through the Ministry of Health will invest USD 313,000 (LSL 5,521,320), while UNFPA through its Supplies Partnership will invest $441,000.00 (LSL 7,779,240.00). The investment by the Ministry of Health has unlocked a further $595,000 in matching funds from UNFPA.
The compact, will ensure that women most at need, adolescent girls and young women, women living in rural areas, are able to exercise their rights to decide freely whether and when they wish to have children and to be able to deliver safely. Through this investment UNFPA will support of Ministry to procure implants, injectables, including the self-injection depo (Sayanna Press) and oral pills that will diversify the range of contraceptive choices available to women in Lesotho.
In addition to the procurement of contraceptives, UNFPA will strengthen Lesotho’s health system through increasing the capacity of the Ministry of Health to quantify the annual need for reproductive health commodities, train health care workers to provide quality and respectful services for all, and strengthen distribution networks to ensure that those most in need are reached. UNFPA will support the Ministry of Health to increase demand for reproductive health commodities through ensuring that every women is empowered to make an informed decision about her preferred contraceptive method and that she is able to access that method whenever she needs it.
The compact is a significant financial commitment by the Government of Lesotho and through the partnership with UNFPA this investment will boost the implementation of the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP), in ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health for all and reducing maternal mortality in Lesotho.
About UNFPA:
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA's mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education.
