Juba, South Sudan- Members of the South Sudan Parliamentary Network on Population and Development under the Revitalized National Transitional Legislative Assembly (RNTLA) have pledged to support strengthening national efforts to improve maternal health outcomes in the country.
This commitment was arrived at in a series of meetings held on 17-18 August 2023 in Juba, Established in 2018 with support from UNFPA, the South Sudan Network on Population and Development launched its first strategic plan (2023-2028).
The goal of the plan is to contribute towards the National Effort of responding to Sexual Reproductive Health and other population needs and supplement government efforts in fulfillment of the commitments made towards enriching the lives of the people.
Graced by the deputy Speaker RNTLA, Hon Nathaniel Oyet Peri, and the government chief whip, Hon. Rebecca Joshua Okwac, the two senior government officials assured UNFPA of the government's commitment to ensuring the enactment of the Nursing and Midwives Act, as well as organizing a high-level meeting with the President of the Republic of South Sudan on addressing maternal mortality with the objective of establishing a Maternal Mortality Reduction Fund.
Globally, UNFPA recognizes that sustainable development requires dynamic and inclusive strategic partnerships that involve a variety of stakeholders. To this end UNFPA South Sudan Country Office partnership with the South Sudan Parliamentary Network on Population and Development to , enact and improve relevant laws and policies, parliamentarians help to create an enabling environment for the achievement of the ICPD goals and the SDGs; advocate for the rights and needs of the people and playing a critical role in safeguarding the health, rights and well-being of women and girls as well as play a critical role in mobilizing necessary resources and ensuring resources appropriately used and through appropriation and oversight functions.
Other objectives of the strategic plan are to among others is to advocate for the enacting of laws and policies that will facilitate better implementation of Sexual Reproductive Health and other population programs, and advocate for increased budget allocation for health in a bid to speed up the move for Universal Access to Health Services.
