Colombo (ECONOMYNEXT): The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has handed over prepositioned maternity and dignity kits worth more than 3 million Rupees (USD 36,000) to the government of Sri Lanka in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are dignity and maternity kits containing hygiene and sanitary items, as well as other items explicitly tailored to the needs of mothers, women and girls of reproductive age in local communities.

“The aim of this initiative is to provide the simplest amenities that have the greatest impact on a woman’s comfort, mobility and physical and psychological health,” a statement from the UNFPA said.

The kits were handed over as a part of the regional pre-positioning initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Government to support countries to respond to emergencies effectively. The kits have been prepositioned in the country in partnership with Oxfam Sri Lanka.

The kits were handed over to the Director-General of Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe by the Representative of UNFPA Sri Lanka Ritsu Nacken.
 
“UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office, which has received 71 million Rupees (USD 165,000) aid from the Australian DFAT, has long partnered on humanitarian response in the region. These prepositioned reproductive health supplies speed up emergency assistance and save lives,” the statement said. (Colombo/Apr9/2020)

https://economynext.com/australian-donation-aims-to-help-women-and-girls-in-sri-lanka-64792/