Key facts
- UNICEF will procure maternal and child health supplies and some nutrition supplies.
- The deal is worth $25 million and will last for one year.
- At least 15 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, and Mali, will receive supplies.
- Shortages of essential medications like oxytocin and amoxicillin have been reported in eastern Congo.
- The cost of care in eastern Congo has doubled or tripled due to the need to buy medicines at market prices.
The US government has secured a one-year deal worth $25 million through UNICEF to continue providing essential maternal and newborn health supplies to some of the world's poorest nations. This agreement aims to prevent further disruptions in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, and Mali, which have faced shortages due to previous US aid program cutbacks. The supplies include life-saving medications and equipment. Health workers in eastern Congo have reported running out of critical items like oxytocin and amoxicillin, leading to a doubling or tripling of care costs. The State Department emphasized its priority to ensure the reliable availability of these commodities. Alongside this UNICEF deal, the US has extended deadlines for other aid deliveries and partnered with the Global Fund for new HIV and malaria supplies.