UNFPA, the UN Population Fund, and concerned government agencies will make the fight against maternal mortality their main goal for the next two years in South Sudan.
UNFPA head of office Deji Popoola told CRN News that the rate of maternal mortality is very high in the country and many women are dying during child birth from preventable causes.
He added that a number of midwives is being trained to ensure that the country gets qualified staff to be able to reduce maternal mortality.
Mr Popoola added that UNFPA will also focus on gender issues like violence Ð which he said it is very high in South Sudan Ð and programmes that empower women to take part actively in the national economic development.
Mr. Popoola announced that UNFPA will assist the National Bureau of Statistics to carry out a new population census during the transitional period.