Mongolia Government to fund RH supplies for first time
9th January 2009
On a recent mission to Mongolia, Jagdish Upadhyay, Coalition Execuitive Commmitee member and Chief of UNFPA's Commodity Management Branch, witnessed a landmark decision at the outcome of a high-level advocacy meeting. Mongolia's government announced that 50 million MNT would be allocated for contraceptives and other RH supplies in their 2009 national budget. This marked the first time in history that the government had assigned its own resources to fund these vital supplies.
Mr. Upadhyay also provided policy guidance on the linkages of RH commodities security with sexual and reproductive health and STI prevention - two major public health concerns of the country. Finally, the Reproductive Health Commodities Security Committee receieved assistance with programing and guidance on new courses of action. These actions include a review of some key maternal health drugs and their rational use and quality, and addressing the issues of very high STI and abortion rates as well as supply challenges.
A news article on the mission can be found here. Also available is the full trip report from Jagdish Upadhyay.
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