Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia – 5 October 2023 – Yesterday, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Tigray Regional Health Bureau, handed over medical equipment worth USD 247,985 to be distributed to 21 health facilities across the Tigray Region. The donation includes 7 anaesthesia machines, 15 portable ultrasound scanners, 10 weighing scales, 2 fetal dopplers, 1 resuscitation table, and 4 non-pneumatic anti-shock garments (NASG).

This is part of UNFPA's effort to support the region's health system, which has been devastated by the impacts of conflict, significantly affecting women and girls' access to sexual and reproductive health care services.

The handover ceremony was attended by the Director of UNFPA’s Humanitarian Response Division Ms. Shoko Arakaki, and the Director of the Division of Management Services, Mr. Andrew Saberton, who are on an official visit to Ethiopia. At the event, Ms. Arakaki emphasized UNFPA's commitment to recovery and rehabilitation efforts in Ethiopia, saying, "UNFPA is as committed as ever to ensuring women and girls in Tigray emerge from this devastation more resilient with access to essential and quality healthcare and services to ensure their rights and choices."

Speaking on the occasion, the Head of Tigray's Regional Health Bureau said, "I would like to thank UNFPA on this occasion and emphasize that this will go to supporting many mothers in need across the region. If there is any time in history when Tigray needed your support, it is now. But once we are able to rebuild, we know our health system will not only benefit us but all of Ethiopia."

UNFPA Representative to Ethiopia, Mr. Koffi Kouame, highlighted that this is just the latest round of donations to the region, with nearly 400 metric tonnes of supplies, equipment, and commodities already supplied to the Tigray Region this year alone.

"Although the medical supplies, equipment, and dignity kits donated will not be able to address all the needs of the region, we believe they will play an essential role in reducing the access gap to sexual and reproductive health and protection services for women and girls in Tigray," said Mr. Kouame.

UNFPA Official hand-over ceremony of supplies to the Regional Head Bureau in Mekelle, Tigray. (c)UNFPA Ethiopia. 

For further information, please contact:

• Mehret Okubay Berehe, Communication and Reporting Associate. Email: okubay@unfpa.org. Cel: +251 911604640
• Paula Fernández Seijo, UNFPA Communications Specialist. Email: pfernandez@unfpa.org. Cel: +251 935597136