Algeria’s Minister of Health, Mohamed Nadir Ait Said, recently met with Faiza Ben Dries, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative in Algeria, at the ministry’s headquarters. The meeting, attended by senior officials from the central administration, focused on reviewing the current state and future prospects of bilateral cooperation between the Ministry and the UNFPA.
The Ministry of Health stated that the encounter provided an opportunity to assess Algeria’s progress in key areas, including reproductive health, family planning, reducing maternal mortality, providing clinical care for women who are victims of violence, and improving the capabilities of healthcare professionals. Emphasis was placed on the need to further enhance the quality of healthcare services provided to the population.
The UNFPA representative highlighted Algeria’s commitment, reaffirmed during the 2019 Nairobi Summit, to achieve the summit’s three transformative goals by 2030: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet needs for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls.
Minister Ait Said underscored the significant achievements of the national health system, including a considerable decline in maternal mortality rates, increased life expectancy, and improved health coverage and overall well-being of the population. He stressed the importance of continuing and strengthening the strategic partnership with the UNFPA, which has contributed to the adoption of preventive and participatory approaches in line with national health policy priorities and Algeria’s international commitments.
Ms. Ben Dries affirmed the UNFPA’s readiness to continue working, coordinating, and supporting national efforts in the field of maternal and women’s health, describing Algeria as a strategic partner in this domain. She highlighted the importance of the ongoing collaboration.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing optimism about the future of their joint cooperation. Both agreed that continued collaboration would contribute to achieving qualitative and sustainable accomplishments in maternal and women’s health.
