Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and UNFPA organized handing over ceremony of the two ambulances equipped with newborn incubator and all necessary equipment to support a mother and a newborn while they are being transported to a higher level maternity. The ambulances were procured within the framework of cooperation between UNFPA and the Ministry of Health under the 3rd UNFPA Country Programme for Uzbekistan.

The ceremony showcased the UNFPA’s successful cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan to improve the health of the nation through the improvement of health of mothers and children, which is the theme of this year. For the last two decades, UNFPA closely works with the Government on implementation of ambitious national plans for making quality maternal healthcare services accessible for all people in Uzbekistan.

“Through strenuous efforts of the Ministry of Health and other national partners, we have seen steady and important reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality. Several consecutive national programmes adopted at the level of President, including the current State Programme on Further Strengthening of Reproductive Health of Population, Protection of Maternity, Child and Adolescent Health in Uzbekistan for the period of 2014-2018, are effectively guiding national efforts in this area.

One of the visible and critical national achievements of the recent years in maternal healthcare is the establishment of the system for regionalization of emergency obstetric and newborn care that implies differentiated approach to care and treatment of the pregnant women depending on severity of their complications. Today’s donation of two ambulances is a contribution of UNFPA to further strengthen this system and overall improvement of quality of care”, – said Ms. Mieko Yabuta, UNFPA Representative in Uzbekistan

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