Discussion during the two-day workshop focused on the Myanmar 3rd country programmes (2012-2015) including sexual and reproductive health (SHR), maternal (MH) and adolescent health (AH), HIV/AIDS preventative measures, youth development, humanitarian relief to crisis areas, gender equality including gender based violence and the advancement of women’s rights as well as the on-going census data processing prior to the release of the main results in May 2015.
Ms. Kaori Ishikawa, UNFPA Myanmar Deputy Representative opened the event by thanking all the assembled partners for all their continued support in implementing UNFPA’s key national priorities related to reproductive health and rights, population and development, gender equality and programme coordination and humanitarian assistance.
“This year has been an important year for us all. UNFPA undertook a re-alignment exercise for to reassess its key priorities for the 2015-2017 programme as well as set out the priorities listed in its new Global Strategic Plan,” said Ms. Ishikawa.” She also used the opportunity to introduce new members of UNFPA’s field offices, which has travelled from their duty stations in Kachin and Rakhine State to attend the two day event.
Over the course of the two day workshop the participants split into smaller discussion groups relating to their thematic areas to share lessons learnt and outline key priorities in preparation for next year’s programme and activities. These areas included: the national strategic plan for Reproductive Health (RH) i.e., Family Planning 2020 and the implementation of a national supply chain system (RHCS), HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality and the Advancement of Women, Youth Policies, Youth and Adolescent health and development, Myanmar’s Population and Housing Census as well as the national plan for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation.
At the meeting it was announced that the Government of Myanmar has agreed to a two year extension of UNFPA country programme which will be in effect until the end of 2017.
Representatives from implementing partners presents at the workshop included Population Service International (PSI), Marie Stopes International (MSI), International Rescue Committee (IRC), John Snow Inc., Central Health Education Bureau (CHEB), Central Health Education Bureau (CHEB), National AIDS Programme (NAP), Myanmar Anti Narcotics Association (MANA), Myanmar Medical Association (MMA), Myanmar Maternal Child Welfare Association (MMCWA), AIDS Myanmar Association (AMA), Department of Social Welfare (DSW), Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Population (DoP).
