Bangkok--27 Sep--Australian Embassy
The Australian Government, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund , World Health Organization and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, has recently launched regionally a revised field manual to safeguard reproductive health for communities in crisis situations.
The Inter-agency Field Manual on Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Settings will support reproductive health officers, and field practitioners to better meet the needs of women affected by conflict and natural disasters.
First published in 1999, the updated field manual provides all the organisational, logistical and clinical information relevant to reproductive health coordination. It also contains new, more comprehensive information on addressing reproductive health care needs and a new chapter dedicated to HIV prevention and care, additional to the chapter on other sexually transmitted infections.
“This manual has been the go-to guide for reproductive health professionals in crisis situations since it was published more than a decade ago. The updated version is comprehensive and relevant to all people working in conflicts, natural disasters and refugee camps,” Australian Ambassador to Thailand James Wise said.
Najib Assifi, Deputy Regional Director of UNFPA’s Asia and Pacific Regional Office commended “the revised manual as enabling a more coordinated reproductive health response to disasters in the region. This regional launch represents a joint commitment of UN agencies, donors and NGOs”, he said.
It’s estimated that more than 65 million people across the world are currently displaced due to conflict and natural disaster. Of these, more than 75% are women children and youth. Despite improvements in maternal health in recent years, one woman every minute dies from pregnancy-related causes.
“The need for detailed and workable guidelines to improve the reproductive health of women in crisis situations is more important than ever. This updated manual will literally help to save lives,” Dr Anna Whelan from the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said.
More than 15,000 field manuals in four different languages will be distributed in crisis zones across the globe — from Colombia to Sudan, to Pakistan and Iraq.
“The Australian Government is proud to be supporting this vital publication. If the world is to meet Millenium Development Goal Number 5 — improving maternal health — every effort needs to be made to provide relevant and professional reproductive health advice to women, whatever situation they find themselves in,” Ambassador Wise said.
Media contact:
Mr Sam Beever
Counsellor, Regional Programs
AusAID — Australian Embassy
Tel: 02-344 6480