Date: 28 Jul 2006
Government of Japan

1. On 28th of July (Friday), the Government of Japan and the United Nations (UN) decided to extend assistance totalling 1,298,374.21 US dollars (approximately 144.11 million yen), through the Trust Fund for Human Security to the project entitled "Support of safe motherhood in Nuba Mountains" that will be implemented in the Republic of Sudan by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

2. In the Nuba Mountains, Sudan, inadequate health services and lack of access to proper health information are seen as causes of high maternal mortality in the region. This project aims at improving the status of reproductive health of married women in the Nuba Mountains and scaling-up family planning services in the region through activities such as raising the capacities of village midwives. The following activities will be implemented:

- Provide training to 60 midwives and other service providers on family planning counselling and equipping family planning delivery points with contraceptives;
- Training 200 midwives and 25 assistant health visitors at adequate professional institutions and to equip them with antenatal care and essential delivery services;
- Gaining community support for midwifery services by holding workshops and distributing training materials;
- Providing basic emergency obstetric care in adequately equipped facilities.

3. This project is expected to improve maternal health conditions in the Nuba Mountains by empowering communities and individuals in the region.

4. The Government of Japan has been giving active support to the consolidation of peace in Sudan. Its pledge in April 2005 of extending US$100 million has already been disbursed for specific projects. Including this project, the Government of Japan intends to further promote the consolidation of peace in Sudan.