Dakar /São Tomé, 24 April 2023 –Sao Tome as a country “has evolved the most in maternal health indicators and the health of young people,” said Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin, UNFPA’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, during a working visit to the country from 20-22 April, the first by a regional director since UNFPA commenced its assistance to the archipelago in 1985.
With a population of 219,078 (2022) of which 50.5 % is female, São Tomé and Príncipe has a maternal mortality ratio of 146 per 100,000 live births (2020). The proportion of women aged 15-49 who have been victims of some type of violence stands at 13.2% (2019) and 46% of modern methods contraceptive prevalence, among women between aged 15-49.
Government ministers commended UNFPA’s role in the country's development process, particularly in accelerating efforts to reduce preventable maternal death, unmet need for family planning and in improving GBV indicators. “There are investments to be made, such as the completion of the surgical center in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe and the need to support us in equipping it and in training, particularly the specialization of midwives. We agree that with additional push, STP can reach zero preventable maternal deaths. It was also an opportunity to share experiences and analyse how to ensure the sustainability of the program after the end of UNFPA funding,” Minister of Health, Employment and Social Affairs, Celsio Junqueira reflected on the visit.
Ms. Matavel had an integrated visit to the District de Cantagalo and toured a maternal health and family planning fair were services of prenatal and family planning supported by mobile clinics, were offered to the communities. She also visited a gender-based violence counselling centre and interacted with young people at the Youth Interaction Centre where she heard testimonies on the importance of comprehensive sexual education.
The visit by the Director was very important. It was a stimulus and motivation for the goals we intend to achieve, for example, having at least four prenatal consultations for each woman.”, said Manuela da Costa, Health Delegate of Cantagalo while the Director of the Young Institute in the District de Cantagalo, Calixto Nascimento, thanked UNFPA “for all the support provided to young people to better understand their body with a view to reducing early pregnancies.”
The country is currently implementing with UNFPA its 2023-2027 Eighth Cooperation Program which seeks to support women, adolescents and youth to benefit from improved access to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights, information and services, and integrated responses to gender-based violence. The program aims to increase met family planning needs, especially among girls and adolescents, from 60 to 75 percent by 2027 and help reduce the maternal mortality rate from 146 to 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
At the end of the visit, Ms. Matavel commended the Government of Sao Tome and Principe for working with UNFPA in promoting the sexual and reproductive rights and health of women and girls in line with goal 3 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. “We think São Tomé and Príncipe can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with one more push. There may be capital investment, but also a better rationalization of the resources that already exist with the contribution of other partners," Ms. Matavel said.
Ms. Matavel was accompanied from the Regional Office by Gilena Andrade, Programme Management Specialist and Pedro Guerra, GBV Specialist and Dr. Justin Koffi, UNFPA Director for São Tomé and Príncipe, residing in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The last leg of the RD’s visit is in the Central Africa Republic.
