Govt. committed to promote women, girl’s reproductive health and rights – PS Daniels Chisenda …as GRZ, UNFPA and other multi-sectoral stakeholders map-out 2021 priorities

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  MNDP/5/6/1

  Media Statement For Immediate Release

  Govt. committed to promote women, girl’s reproductive health and rights – PS Daniels Chisenda

  …as GRZ, UNFPA and other multi-sectoral stakeholders map-out 2021 priorities

  LUSAKA, Thursday, 10 December 2020 –

  

  PS Daniels Chisenda

  Ministry of National Development Planning

  Permanent Secretary Danies Chisenda says the Government remains steadfastly committed to

  uplift people’s well-being especially women and girls by upholding sexual and reproductive

  health and reproductive rights for all.

  In a statement read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Director for Population and Development Mr.

  Charles Banda at the official opening of the 2020 GRZ/UNFPA 8th Country Programme Annual

  Review and 2021 Planning Meeting in Lusaka, Mr. Chisenda commended the United National

  Population Fund (UNFPA) for its continued collaboration with the Zambian Government to

  improve the welfare of the people.

  

  Director for Population and Development Mr.
  Charles Banda

  Mr. Chisenda, who is Permanent Secretary in charge of Development Cooperation, Monitoring

  and Evaluation, said the 2020 annual review and planning meeting presented a great opportunity

  to all multi-sectoral participants to reflect on the implementation status, and determine to what

  extent the work was leading towards the desired development outcomes.

  “Government has sharpened its resolve in guiding the country on population matters by

  launching the 2019 National Population Policy and its Implementation Plan this year. The

  implementation plan has clear targets; and as we plan for next year, it will be vital that all

  stakeholders refer to the two documents to guide our immediate results,” Mr. Chisenda said. “I

  assure you that the Government through our ministry is committed to track progress on the

  implementation of the 8th GRZ/UNFPA Country Programme on population and development to

  ensure that critical targets are achieved as detailed in our various work plans.”

  

  Director for Population and Development Mr.
  Charles Banda

  The Permanent Secretary noted that the Government of Zambia was cognisant of some setbacks in the implementation of the 2020 annual works due to COVID-19 and other natural disasters.

  “Whatever the context, whether COVID-19 or a climate-related disaster or any other crisis, the

  8th Country Programme’s focus remains on uplifting people especially women and girls by

  upholding sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights for all. You all may be aware

  COVID-19 has unmasked the extent to which such crises exacerbate inequalities,” Mr. Chisenda

  said. “Zambia and UNFPA have worked well together even in this COVID-19 environment and

  for this, the UNFPA Country Office – through the able leadership of the Country Representative

  Madam Gift Malunga – is greatly appreciated.”

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  And UNFPA Country Representative Gift Malunga reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to sustain its support to Zambia and partners towards securing the health and wellbeing of all women and young people.

  She noted that COVID-19 had presented unprecedented challenges to humanity.

  “Despite this setback, we have all demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability as we have continued to deliver on our mandate which is even more critical in times like these when we need to continue to safeguard the health and wellbeing of women and young people,” said Ms. Malunga.

  

  UNFPA Country Representative Gift Malunga

  She expressed optimism that the participants will deliver on the 2021 priorities.

  “Some of these priorities include: Supporting continuity of essential Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services, including maternal health care services that have been disrupted, with potentially serious implications for maternal and new-born health; procurement and supply of

  family planning commodities; adolescent and youth SRH and empowerment; prevention and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) and support for the Population and Housing Census; and advancing the Demographic Dividend.”

  Under the 8th Country Programme (2016-2020), UNFPA supports Zambia in implementing its national priorities as articulated in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF).

  

  UNFPA Country Representative Gift Malunga

  Issued by

  Chibaula D. Silwamba (Mr.)

  Spokesperson

  MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

  Tel: +260211252409

  Email: chibaula.silwamba@mndp.gov.zm Website: www.mndp.gov.zm

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  Chibaula David Silwamba (Mr.)
  Spokesperson
  MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING