The Country Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Ukraine inpartnership with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Support in Market Development(MSD), USAID-funded “Healthy Women of Ukraine” Program (HWUP), conducted round-table on Advocacy of accessibility and affordability of Family Planning Service and Contraception in Ukraine.

The workshop was attended by representatives of government institutions, medical professionals and family planning experts, representatives of non-governmental and international organizations, distributors and manufacturers of contraceptives.

In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Nuzhat Ehsan, Representative of UNFPA, noted that "because of the crisis in Ukraine and the devaluation of hryvnia, family planning is not a priority, and contraception became expensive and inaccessible. However, the availability of contraception is very important, especially for women at risk. Therefore, we will continue to work on promoting availability of contraception on the market, and in this regard collaboration with private companies operating in this market is extremely important. "

Stressing the importance of awareness of the methods of modern contraception and their availability, Ms. Valentyna Kolomeichuk, the Deputy Director of MCH Department of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, added "I am delighted that motherhood and childhood have always been a priority, and I hope that they will remain so, because motherhood and childhood are our future, and for it to be successful, we need mothers and children to be healthy. For this purpose, it is important that women are aware of modern contraception and contraception to be available. "

During the round table the results of conducted by UNFPA “Willingness and Ability to Pay Survey for contraceptives 2013” (WAPS) and up-dated Advocacy Package “The Rationale for Family Planning in Ukraine” were presented for participants.