The Transformative Agenda is a major investment of $46.5 million by the Australian Government to support improved sexual and reproductive health in the Pacific.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar during the launch of the Transformative Agenda for Women, Youth and Adolescents.
Akbar says maternal deaths could be reduced by as much as three quarters and infant deaths by as much as a fifth if women, adolescents and youths have universal access information and services.
Akbar says investment in sexual and reproductive health is fundamental to many and its importance is reflected in objectives set out in the Pacific Healthy Islands Strategy re-endorsed by the Pacific Health Ministers in 2015.
She says family planning does more than save money, it also saves and changes lives for the better.
Akbar says we need to ensure our youths have all the tools they need to invest well in themselves, in their lives and achieve their fullest potential.
She highlighted that access to family planning also helps to save lives of women and girls by ensuring that babies are not born too early, too late, or too close together.
Akbar says the Transformative Agenda has been designed to respond to the key needs of six Pacific countries including Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
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