The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has pledged its support for the Zamfara government’s initiatives towards achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health.

The agency’s resident representative, Koessan Kuawu, said this on Monday when he led a UNFPA delegation on a visit to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre at Farida General Hospital, Gusau.

The state government is partnering with the UNFPA in gender-based violence (GBV), VVF management and the AGILE project.

“We are here on a field visit to these centres to discuss with our stakeholders to see the situation on the ground and assess the needs,” he said.

Mr Kuawu said the visit followed UNFPA’s discussions with Governor Dauda Lawal in Abuja in February.

He assured of UNFPA’s collaboration with the state to enhance the capacity of SARC and VVF centres.

“We were encouraged by the conversation we had with the governor and his commitment to improve the situation, especially the infrastructure of these centres.

“We are going to provide support as we can in line with the UNFPA priorities for the benefit of women and girls in the state,” he said.

In their separate remarks, the management of SARC and VVF centres, Amina Hassan and Musa Muhammad, described the visit as a welcome development.

They solicited more support from UNFPA for the improvement of the centres, especially in the areas of capacity building and infrastructure.

The delegation also visited the state Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, where they discussed extensively the activities of the project in the state.

(NAN)