Ethiopia: Eight countries pledge to spend a record-breaking $175 million for women’s health supplies

Countries: Ethiopia, Belgium, Ghana, Honduras, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia Source: United Nations Population Fund Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia scale up domestic investment in contraceptives and life-saving maternal and newborn health commodities. Belgium and Luxembourg commit landmark contributions to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership. GENEVA, 22 May 2026: Eight countries pledged over US$175 million to expand access to contraceptives and life-saving reproductive, maternal and newborn health supplies. The announcements, made by governments during the 79th World Health Assembly, come at a time of growing concern over global funding cuts to women’s health programmes. Such aid reductions are projected to leave a US$ 185 million gap in contraceptive funding alone in 2026. The commitments by these eight countries signal a major push by governments to increase domestic investment in essential health supplies that prevent maternal deaths, unintended pregnancies and newborn complications. Several of the commitments will be matched dollar for dollar by UNFPA through the UNFPA Supplies Partnership Match Fund and Maternal and Newborn Health Commodities Accelerator, helping countries stretch resources further and accelerate access to critical life-saving commodities. The commitments come at a critical moment for women’s health. Every day more than 700 women die from preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Since 2020, domestic investment in contraceptives and maternal health supplies has increased more than sixfold across 54 UNFPA Supplies programme countries. Donor governments are also stepping up. Belgium and Luxembourg each announced a contribution of EUR€4 million to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership, €8 million in total, reinforcing international solidarity at a m...

Original source: Relief Web