As requested by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, India will extend funding support of US Dollar one million from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for the project, “increase access of rural women to quality reproductive and maternal health services in maternity hospitals with the highest number of deliveries”.

2. The project aims to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity through ensuring that quality tele-networking reproductive and maternal services are accessible and available in five maternity hospitals in the rural and mountainous regions of Jalal Abad, Karakol and Chui. Two hospitals at the tertiary level in Bishkek, namely, the National Center of Maternal and Child Health and Osh inter-oblast Hospital will be equipped to provide supportive supervision through tele-networking to three maternity hospitals at the secondary level in the aforementioned regions. A web-based obstetric surveillance and response platform in these five maternity hospitals will analyze critical maternal complication cases, prevent pregnancy complications and improve the quality of treatment received. A mobile application with key messages on reproductive and maternal health will also be developed.

3. The project will contribute to Sustainable Developments Goals relating to ‘good health’.

4. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund, established by the Government of India in June 2017, provides support to projects in developing countries that aim to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund adheres to the principles of South-South cooperation and places a priority on national ownership and leadership, equality, sustainability, development of local capacity and mutual benefit. The Fund particularly welcomes proposals from least developed countries, landlocked-developing countries and small-island developing states and supports projects that are in alignment with the 2030 Agenda. The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation is the designated Fund manager.

5. The Permanent Representative of India, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, said that India’s relations with the Kyrgyz Republic have been traditionally warm and friendly. Both countries work closely in multilateral forums, including at the United Nations. She also said, “Government of India is glad to support the Kyrgyz Republic to improve maternal and prenatal care in five hospitals that covers 40% of nation’s births across three mountainous regions of the Kyrgyz Republic”.

6. A total of US$ 150 million over the next decade has been committed by the Government of India for the Fund which includes US$ 50 million to support fellow Commonwealth developing countries, US$ 14 million for the CARICOM group of countries and US$ 12 million for the Pacific Islands Developing States.

------