Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced new support for access to contraceptives, family planning and other sexual and reproductive health services during her visit to Papua New Guinea. The Minister made the announcement while at the Marie Stopes International (MSI) clinic in Port Moresby.
The New Zealand government will invest a further $30 million over five years for government and non-government agencies working across the Pacific to improve care and access to health services in this area.
The funding aims to help address high adolescent pregnancy rates, high levels of maternal mortality, and sexual and gender-based violence, amongst other health and wellbeing needs.
Minister Mahuta says, “Aotearoa New Zealand’s investment is directed to public and private sector partners like Pacific Ministries of Health, the United Nations Population Fund, International Planned Parenthood Federation, the International Women’s Development Agency and Marie Stopes International.
Not only is this area of health a priority for our own country, but also our responsibility as a Pacific nation, standing shoulder to shoulder: tatou, tatou — all of us together. This work will help us all in our efforts towards achieving social and economic resilience in the Pacific,” says Minister Mahuta.
