The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific, with the support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Fiji Office, is donating delivery beds and other equipment to the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to help ensure safe, clean and dignified delivery experiences for both mothers and their newborn babies. 

In the most recent Health Facility Readiness and Service Availability Assessment conducted in 2019 with UNFPA support,  MHMS realized that, while maternity services are available in urban centres of Kiribati, most of the outer islands lack capacities for providing such services.  Shortage of water due to the prolonged drought has added to the challenge for MHMS to provide quality maternal and newborn health services. 

More than 40 per cent of these facilities assessed back then, did not have functioning delivery beds. The lack of delivery beds exacerbates the risks for pregnant women and newborns.  The Maternal Mortality Ratio in Kiribati stood at 97 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 which, despite the downward trend, is still higher than the global SDG Target of 70/100,000.  

Hon. Minister of Health and Medical Services Mr. Tinte Itinteang, when meeting with UNFPA Director for the Pacific, Iori Kato, at the recent Pacific Health Ministers Meeting, underscored the priority that his Ministry places on its efforts at achieving the goal of “zero preventable maternal deaths.” 

Against this backdrop, with the timely funding support from KOICA, UNFPA Pacific has procured six delivery beds, as well as cabinets, chairs and tables to donatie to the Kiribati MHMS to be utilized at the Tungaru Central Hospital, the country’s main tertiary referral hospital in its capital city, Tarawa. 

In front of the delivery beds to be shipped to Tarawa, Ms. Mariateretia Nauree, Education Attache of Kiribati High Commission in Fiji said, “On behalf of the Government of Kiribati and the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services, I would like to thank UNFPA and KOICA for your generosity in donating the delivery beds to Kiribati MHMS which will help in saving lives of the mother and the newborn. We look forward to your continued support in future.” 

The Country Director of the KOICA Fiji Office, Mr. Kapchae Ra, said, “KOICA is pleased  to provide funds through UNFPA Pacific to procure delivery beds for the Tungaru Central Hospital under the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services. We hope that the delivery beds will improve the quality of maternal and newborn care in Kiribati.”

“UNFPA is committed to supporting Member States including Kiribati in preventing deaths of pregnant women and newborns during childbirth, including through assistance to health facilities and personnel to treat and care for their patients in an environment that ensures their life, safety, and sense of dignity.  UNFPA Pacific is grateful to KOICA Fiji for having made this timely support to Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services possible,” said UNFPA Pacific Director Iori Kato. 

As the delivery beds have reached the port of Suva, Fiji, awaiting onward shipment to Tarawa, a hand-over event of these delivery beds and equipment was held at a warehouse in Suva on 31 October, joined by representatives of the Kiribati High Commission in Fiji, KOICA Fiji Office, and UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office.