Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

Investing in equality: How young women are innovating to improve their health, rights and lives

Women innovators are stepping up to bridge the gap and save lives

“I lead a team of six amazing women, with specialties from pharmaceutical supply chains to software engineering and digital marketing – our journey so far in empowering young women to take charge of their health has been nothing short of amazing,” said 26-year-old Chioma Uzoma from Nigeria. Ms. Uzoma is among14…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

A transformative journey to reach zero preventable maternal deaths in Rwanda

In recent years, the decline has been slower, with the MMR standing at 203 per 100,000 live births in 2020 – a decline of only 7 data points over 5 years

Rwanda has undergone a remarkable journey in tackling its high maternal mortality rate over the past decade. From an alarming 1071 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010, the country has accelerated its rate of reduction in the MMR, reaching 210 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015. In…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

Defying tradition, championing rights: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) sparks change in female genital mutilation hotspots across East Africa

Despite the practice being declared illegal, deeply rooted cultural beliefs impede progress towards eradicating it in certain regions

''Is [female genital mutilation] religious?'' Under a tree in the quiet village of Dalocha Woreda in Central Ethiopia region, Nuritu Sirbar, the Head of the Dalocha district Women and Children's Affairs Office, challenged community and religious leaders four years ago to justify a deeply ingrained tradition – female genital mutilation…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

Reviving Tigray’s Health System to Prevent Maternal Deaths

The accessible health facilities in the Tigray region more than 90 percent were partially or completely damaged with 98 percent lacking essential family planning supplies

On November 22nd, 2023, for the first time in over a year after the conflict, surgeons at Adi Daero Primary Hospital started to bring life into the world again. Forty-year-old Wahid Hadush became the first mother to deliver a healthy baby via Cesarean section.  Wahid had traveled from Adi-Abagi with…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

How family planning is changing the lives of youth in communities caught in attacks in northern Mozambique

In Mozambique, most maternal deaths are attributed to a lack of family planning, resulting in high rates of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions

Early in the morning, queues begin to form outside Lichinga Health Centre as medical staff prepare to treat patients, while nearby, mentors encourage people to test for HIV and learn about family planning methods. Their combined efforts to provide these health services in Niassa province in northwest Mozambique hold particular significance. Since…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

Africa's triumph: A decade of progress and challenges in pursuit of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) vision

Member States must continue to advance people-centred monitoring, accountability and enforcement mechanisms to ensure Africa Leaves No One Behind in sustainable development

Africa has made significant strides towards realizing the vision of  the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), for a continent that puts individual dignity and human rights at the centre of development. “The ICPD agenda remains relevant for the African continent. We need to recommit to the breakthrough solutions and momentum needed to…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) calls for greater investment in population and development issues ahead of international conference in Zimbabwe

The Population and Development conference seeks to track progress of commitments made at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994

UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Director Ms. Lydia Zigomo has called for greater investment for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda ahead of the 20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South Cooperation in Population and Development. Ms. Zigomo is in Zimbabwe ahead of this important conference that…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

War, pregnancy and hope: Setyelem's harrowing journey of giving birth in Ethiopia

The UNFPA project is helping to ensure that women like Setyelem have the care they need to deliver healthy babies

Mother-of-two Setyelem, 29, had been diligent about going for antenatal check-ups during her first two pregnancies. But during her third pregnancy while carrying twins, inter-communal fighting broke out in her hometown of Ataye. The situation was severely exacerbated when the war in Tigray began a short while later. Setyelem became…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

Beating the odds: Resilience, hope and safe births at a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) mobile clinic in the Democratic Republic of Congo

One of the only options for thousands of women and girls to access essential sexual and reproductive health care, the clinic is one of three set up by UNFPA in displacement sites in North Kivu province

Although heavily pregnant and in pain, Kaindo Bembeleza waited patiently along with dozens of other women on a row of benches under a tarpaulin tent.  The women were hoping to be seen by a team of midwives at a mobile clinic run by UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health…

Source: UNFPA - East and Southern Africa |

From bullying to respectful: Cleiton's club ignites shift in gender perspectives among Mozambican boys

Since early 2022, 14 members of the boys' clubs have been trained as leaders to guide peer-to-peer discussions with 84 members who have been recruited to date

Just 14 years old, Cleiton Adriano has set himself an admirable goal. The ninth grader is holding awareness-raising activities with his peers to help create an inclusive space at his school in Beira, Sofala – one that is free of gender-based violence (GBV). “Spreading positive messages about gender equality and the…