June 18, 2013 – The presentation of a commemorative coin “Maternity” at the National Bank of Ukraine today draw special public attention to the topic of motherhood and related issues that need to be addressed by Ukrainian society.

During her remarks at the presentation ceremony that took place at the Money Museum of the National Bank of Ukraine, UNFPA Representative Ms.Nuzhat Ehsan welcomed the initiative of the central financial institution of the country to promote this important topic by creating especially dedicated coin.

During the last couple of years a lot has been done in Ukraine to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers. UNFPA Representative in Ukraine spoke in praise of the recent initiative of the Ukrainian Government – the launch of the new project “New Life - New Quality of Maternity and Childhood" aimed at reforming the health system and strengthening of the primary health care in the country.

However, Ukraine is faced with a low fertility rate (1.46%). 71% of Ukrainian families have only 1 child. This, together with such issues as ageing of population, migration and high maternal mortality (comparing to western European countries) present a challenge to the future, stated Ms. Ehsan.

UNFPA Representative called for more family-oriented policies and provisions in this regard as well as to the need of an increasing quality of medical and social services for mothers.

During the presentation ceremony, the audience also received extensive information on the coin design contest and the history of its creation from the remarks by Viktoriya Suzanska, the National Bank of Ukraine Deputy Head of Numismatic Products and Marketing, had a chance to meet the author of the coin design Natalia Fandikova.