MAJURO, Marshall Islands – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Director for the Pacific Sub-Regional Office (PRSO) and Representative in Fiji, Mr. Iori Kato, paid a courtesy call upon H.E. the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Mr. David Kabua, during his recent first visit to the country, when he also presented his introductory letter from the UNFPA Executive Director to the RMI Government.
RMI is one of the 14 Pacific island countries and territories that UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office (Fiji) serves under its 7th five-year Multi-Country Programme for 2023-2027. UNFPA Pacific currently has an in-country presence in nine out of the 14 countries, and RMI is one of them.
During his courtesy call on 9 October 2023 at the Office of the President in Majuro, UNFPA Pacific Director Kato thanked H.E. the President for the long-lasting partnership between UNFPA and the RMI Government. Kato underlined UNFPA’s commitment to scaling up its support to the RMI Government in achieving its national development goals, particularly towards the eradication of preventable maternal deaths and elimination of cervical cancer cases, as well as for youth empowerment including through Family Life Education (comprehensive sexuality education) and behavioural change communication for preventing unintended pregnancies among teenage girls and ending gender-based violence. UNFPA will also continue its technical support to RMI in enriching the amount and quality of data related to population dynamics.
Welcoming the UNFPA Pacific Director’s visit, H.E. President Kabua expressed the RMI government’s appreciation to UNFPA Pacific’s continued support, especially for sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly for the Marshallese adolescents and youth. Ms. Alexandra Joseph from UNFPA Marshall Islands Country Office, and Ms. Evelyn Adolph, Head of UNFPA Micronesia Multi-Country Office in Pohnpei, also joined the courtesy call.
During his mission to Majuro from 9-12 October, UNFPA Pacific Director Kato also met with Hon. Minister of Health and Human Services Mr Ota Kisino, when Kato was invited as Chief Guest to the World Mental Health Day (10 October) event that MHHS organized in Majuro. Further he had a consultation with Hon. Secretary of Health & Human Services, Ms. Francyne-Wase Jacklick, and her team, and also visited the Majuro Hospital maternity ward.
As the revised curriculum for Family Life Education (CSE) was approved by the Education Board while he stayed in Majuro, Director Kato reiterated UNFPA’s continued support to RMI’s Ministry of Education, Sports and Training in the pilot roll-out of FLE in select elementary schools, during his meeting with Hon. Minister Mr. Wilbur Heine and his team. Kato then visited one of those pilot schools in Majuro where UNFPA-supported FLE is rolled out, the Rita Elementary School, and interacted with the Principal and other teachers.
UNFPA Pacific Director Kato also made a courtesy call on Hon. Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs, Ms Kitlang Kabua, as well as Hon. Chief Secretary, Ms Kino Kabua. Kato also consulted with Acting Director of Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office Mr. Junior Peter and his team to discuss UNFPA’s support to EPPSO including for the follow-up to the Population Census. He also visited the health clinic of the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) that UNFPA is supporting, after his meeting with CMI Executive Vice President Mr. William Reiher.
Director Kato also had a series of consultations with representatives of CSO/NGOs, youth groups, and religious leaders in Majuro. Further, UNFPA Pacific Director met with UN staff members working in RMI, as well as visited the resident development partners including the Embassies of Australia, Japan, and U.S.A.
