Secretary Locsin welcomes UNFPA Country Programme Representative Joudane, highlights PH, UNFPA partnership on Reproductive Health Efforts

By DFA

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Programme Representative, Dr. Leila Joudane (right) pays courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (left) on 16 March 2021. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Philip Fernandez)

PASAY CITY, Mar. 17 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. congratulated the new United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Programme Representative, Dr. Leila Joudane on her appointment, and wished the latter success in carrying out the UNFPA’s 8th five-year PH Country Programme 2019-2023 (8CP), which is half-way through implementation, in a courtesy call held today.

Secretary Locsin also conveyed the appreciation of the Philippines for the contributions of UNFPA in promoting the right of Filipinos to access reproductive health information and services, including family planning and prevention of gender-based violence, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The UNFPA leads the Reproductive Health Sub-sector of the UN’s Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) COVID-19 Response Plan, and has mobilized USD 1.39 million in support of projects for the most marginalized women, as well as interventions that address women’s and girls’ unique needs and challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. UNFPA has also provided technical assistance in developing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Contingency Plan on COVID-19. (DFA)