Mekelle, Tigray Region | In the Tigray region, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has provided 167 Inter-Agency Reproductive Health Kits to partners, valued at $228,496. These medical supplies will cater to the maternal and reproductive health requirements of around 20,000 women and girls in the region for three months.

UNFPA also provided 8,000 dignity kits, 7 ultrasound machines, and medical supplies during a handover ceremony in Tigray's regional capital, Mekelle.

This assistance was made possible through the Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict-Affected Communities in Ethiopia (3R4CACE) project, supported by the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, the World Bank, and UNOPS, which procured 107 IARH kits, and 5,000 dignity kits. 

Canada, through its efforts to improve health services to conflict-affected communities, also provided additional IARH kits, while Irish Aid provided ultrasounds, dignity kits, and additional medical supplies. 

During the handover ceremony, the Deputy Representative of UNFPA, Mr. Taiwo Olyomi, expressed gratitude to donors and emphasized the agency's dedication to assisting in the reconstruction of the healthcare system in the region. He also emphasized the importance of enabling all women and girls to access sexual and reproductive health services and gender-based violence resources.

Conflict in the region has severely strained the healthcare system, limiting its ability to offer essential services to women and girls. An alarming rise in maternal mortality rates, with an average of 840 deaths per 100,000 live births, was found in recent research led by Mekelle University and Tigray's Bureau of Health. This contrasts with pre-war data, which indicated 187 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The reproductive health kits are the latest round of essential supplies made available to the region. Between November 2022 and May 2023 alone, UNFPA dispatched 392 IARH kits, supporting a population of more than 500,000 women and girls for three months. These kits include vital drugs, equipment, and supplies necessary for reproductive healthcare, such as contraceptives, clean delivery kits, and post-rape treatment.

Furthermore, UNFPA has contributed over 900 pieces of medical equipment, including hospital beds, delivery and examination beds, anesthesia machines, operating lights, ultrasound scanners, and other crucial items to 34 regional healthcare facilities.

The Head of Tigray's Pharmaceutical Case Team from the Regional Health Bureau, Mr. Gebregziabher Weldegirogires, highlighted the importance of these supplies in helping the region's healthcare system recover from the impact of the conflict. He also emphasized that additional support would be necessary to ensure a rapid and strong recovery in the region.