MSI Asia Pacific welcomes the federal government’s announcement of the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, which will help build resilient and equitable health systems in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
This initiative focuses on communicable diseases while also encompassing non-communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and strengthening of health system functions.
MSI Asia Pacific is pleased to see the clear focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights as one of five outcomes for the initiative: “Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR): Partner countries supported to advance inclusive sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly for women and girls.”
This announcement recognises that sexual and reproductive health service delivery in many countries was disrupted by the pandemic, and that these services are vital if we are to achieve gender equality and health outcomes within the Australian aid program.
MSI Asia Pacific Executive Officer Merewyn Foran welcomed the announcement of the new initiative. “The pandemic’s impact on health service delivery have been severe. This initiative is crucial to ensuring women and girls in our region, from those in major cities to rural, hard-to-reach villages, can access the sexual and reproductive healthcare they need.”
“As courageous providers of choice, MSI goes further than anyone else to reach people who would otherwise have no access to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights. I’m so pleased to see the Australian Government shares our commitment to providing essential health care for women and girls in Pacific and Southeast Asia,” she said.
More information about Partnerships for a Healthy Region can be found here.