Syria, UNFPA Debate Ways of Setting out Joint Action Plan for 2017

Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Rema Qadri and Deputy Executive Director of United  Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Dr. Natalia Kanem discussed Monday ways of developing cooperation in the field of taking care of children and women affected by ongoing crisis in Syria.

The two sides, in addition, reviewed mechanism of setting out joint action plan to carry out several programs in 2017 as regards abilities building and youths’ productivity enhancement, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The agency quoted Qadri as saying: “The crisis created big challenges in social sector and this necessitates further action to make practical achievements. It is necessary to focus on women who became breadwinners.”

 On her part, Dr. Kanem said that the goal of the meeting is to show UNFPA’s interest in following up implementation of programs in Syria and to tackle practical ways to increase activity of programs being carried out by the UNFPA in cooperation with government institutions and civil sector.

Free therapeutic services offered to around 7 million persons in 2016

Also today, another meeting was held between Minister of Higher Education Dr. Atef Naddaf and UNFPA Deputy Executive Director where discussion focused on cooperation in field of supporting youths and education.

“Syria government is still supporting education and offering it free despite challenges caused by terror war on Syria,” the minister said during the meeting, asserting that teaching hospitals offered in 2016 free therapeutic services  to around 7 million persons.

He called on the UNFPA to contribute to repairing deactivated medical devices in hospitals and to ensure missing medicines.

Dr. Kanem affirmed the UNFPA’s readiness to cooperate with the ministry in fields of holding training courses for physicians, repairing maternity hospitals’ equipment and ensuring medicines.

“The UNFPA  mainly supports youth and population studies , communication, skill acquisition and classroom activities,” she added. 

UNFPA finances several  SFPA projects

In the same context, SANA reported that delegation from UNFPA visited a clinic affiliated to the Syrian Family Planning Association (SFPA) in Damascus in order to have an idea about services being offered to women and children there .

The association’s executive director Dr. Lama Mowaqqe’a declared that UNFPA financed several projects and activities, including medical clinics in the association.

“The association seeks through cooperation with international organizations in Syria, such as UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO to improve quality of services in all fields and to receive more women, children and youths as well as to offer psychological and health care services to them,” Mowaqqe’a added.

The UNFPA’s Regional Director in Arab region Dr. Louay Shbaneh said that the delegation’s visit to Syria aims to know the additional requirements that must be taken into consideration in next programs.

The SFPA, founded in 1974, works in field of development and it has branches and 125 medical clinics in most provinces. It is a member of International Planned Parenthood Federation.  

The UNFPA, with its partners, is deploying dignity kits, reproductive health kits and equipment, and medical personnel to assist affected communities. UNFPA is also supporting emergency obstetric care and psychosocial support, and is conducting outreach programs for youth.

Since 2011, a foreign-backed terror war has been waged on Syria targeting its army, people, civilization and infrastructures in accordance with US-Zionist plot that aims to fragment the region and to have hegemony over its wealth.

Basma Qaddour