Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Oct 15, 2025 (BSS) - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with 
support from the European Union (EU) Humanitarian Aid today handed over a new 
consignment of essential medical equipment aimed at preventing maternal and 
newborn deaths among Rohingyas and host communities in Cox's Bazar.

The batch of emergency obstetric and reproductive health supplies was handed 
over by UNFPA Representative Catherine Breen Kamkong in presence of 
government representatives, said a press release issued by the UNFPA here.
 
The assistance will directly strengthen emergency obstetric care at 
Friendship Field Hospital, the main referral hub serving all 33 refugee camps 
with around 6,000 patients monthly.

The consignment includes specialized blood transfusion kits and surgical 
instruments to support caesarean sections and other critical procedures, 
benefiting an estimated 150,000 people. 

The delivery forms part of a €1 million EU-funded project designed to improve 
reproductive health supply chains and ensure uninterrupted access to 
essential commodities for nearly 180,000 Rohingya refugees and host community 
members.

"No woman should die giving life," said Catherine Breen Kamkong, adding that 
the partnership between UNFPA and the EU represents a critical step in 
ensuring lifesaving care for mothers and newborns.

According to the Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Surveillance and Response 
(MPMSR) Report 2024, 46 maternal deaths were recorded in the camps last year, 
with 3-5 deaths still occurring monthly despite a 45 percent decline since 
2021.

Davide Zappa, head of EU Humanitarian Aid in Bangladesh, said: "Safe 
childbirth is not a privilege, it is a basic human right.
 
Timely access to emergency obstetric care, backed by a reliable supply chain, 
is vital to reducing maternal mortality. Every life saved is a testament to 
partnership and solidarity."

The initiative forms part of UNFPA's broader effort to strengthen health 
system preparedness for reproductive health emergencies under the Minimum 
Initial Service Package (MISP) across Cox's Bazar district and Bhasan Char, 
Noakhali serving over 300,000 women of reproductive age.