Why ‘MenstruAction’ is a gender-transformative approach: BMZ and GIZ‘s commitment to a movement that has come a long way

May 21, 2023

Why ‘MenstruAction’ is a gender-transformative approach: BMZ and GIZ‘s commitment to a movement that has come a long way

How a neglected yet vital issue has climbed up the development agenda, why it matters and what still needs to be done.

Protecting mothers and newborns against the negative impacts of climate change

January 11, 2023

Protecting mothers and newborns against the negative impacts of climate change

Climate change is increasingly recognised as serious threat to human health with pregnant women and newborns amongst those most at risk. This, and how to mitigate the effects, was the topic of a roundtable discussion at the World Health Summit in Berlin in October 2022.

20th International Dialogue on Population and Sustainable Development

November 14, 2022

20th International Dialogue on Population and Sustainable Development

At the 20th International Dialogue on Population and Sustainable Development over 100 experts looked back and ahead on building resilience in the face of crises concerning sexual and reproductive health and rights.

WHS 2022: Debating the place of SRHR in achieving ‘health for all’

October 27, 2022

WHS 2022: Debating the place of SRHR in achieving ‘health for all’

In the context of the triple crisis of climate change, conflict and pandemics, development leaders and young people discuss the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as a core component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

‘Nothing about us without us’ – putting young people and their sexual and reproductive health and rights at the centre

December 14, 2021

‘Nothing about us without us’ – putting young people and their sexual and reproductive health and rights at the centre

At a virtual two-day conference, experts from around the world discussed challenges and opportunities in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights for – and together with – young people.

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Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Promoting the well-being of the most vulnerable members of society: mothers, children and adolescents

Progress has been slow in maternal, child and adolescent health. Globally, about 810 women die each day during pregnancy and childbirth (UNICEF, 2020). In 2019, over six million children and young adolescents died, of which 5.2 million were children under the age of five (UNICEF, 2020). Most of these deaths were preventable. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation is getting worse. Projections suggest that even a moderate decrease in the provision of pregnancy, childbirth and neonatal care could result in 28,000 additional maternal deaths and 168,000 newborn deaths. More than 47 million women in low- and middle-income countries could lose access to contraceptives, resulting in up to 7 million unintended pregnancies. 

To address these and related challenges, German development cooperation supports a many-faceted response, starting with universal access to information about sexual and reproductive health and to reliable methods of contraception. Health staff are trained and equipped to provide rights-based family planning, pre- and postnatal care and assisted deliveries, as well as treatment of sexually transmitted infections – including prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Young people are targeted with tailor-made programmes promoting healthy lifestyles through school health programmes, special youth clinics and GIZ’s ‘Join-in Circuit’. You can discover these German-supported approaches in the articles, studies and events on this page.

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