Monrovia — The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support from Sweden, has donated 13 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles and a motorbike to the Ministry of Health. The vehicles are in support of strengthening reproductive and maternal health services across the country.
Speaking on Friday, December 13, 2024, during the presentation ceremony, UNFPA Representative Bidisha Pillai said the donation is part of UNFPA’s support to the strengthening of maternal health services in underserved counties and enhancing social cohesion through the rehabilitation & empowerment of marginalized youth in Liberia.
“Strengthening the maternal health system is part of UNFPA’s core mandate of ending preventable maternal deaths, ending the unmet need for family planning, and ending all forms of sexual and gender-based violence by 2030,” she added.
Recognizing the Minister of Health’s tireless efforts, she said, “We hope that the Government of Liberia will recognize this support and further build on it as access to reproductive health services and maternal health services are so crucial if the country is to prevent women from dying in childbirth,” she said.
Ms. Pillai disclosed that the vehicles were acquired as part of the Government of Sweden’s support to the 2022 Liberia Population and Housing Census. She commended the Government and people of Sweden for their continuous support of UNFPA programmes in Liberia, especially for ending preventable maternal deaths and ensuring every young person fulfills their full potential.
In response, the Ambassador of Sweden to Liberia, Karl Backéus, said Sweden was proud to collaborate with UNFPA to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights for Liberian adolescents, young people, and women, including Liberia’s maternal health delivery system. Ambassador Backéus said his country looked forward to seeing the impact the donation of the vehicles would have on the maternal health system across the country.
In addition, one of the 13 vehicles and the motorbike will support the At-Risk Youth project. Jointly funded by the Government of Liberia and the United Nations through the Peacebuilding Fund, the programme seeks to empower marginalized youths, especially youths using drugs and other substances, with economic livelihood skills, give them the agency and voice to contribute to peacebuilding, and hold state actors accountable.
Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, received the vehicles and commended UNFPA and the Government of Sweden for the donation.
Dr. Kpoto noted that the vehicles will greatly support the Government’s effort to reduce maternal death in the country by strengthening maternal health services. She said the vehicles would be used to ferry pregnant women to health facilities and for emergency cases.
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