Several unfortunate comments in your article (Birth of hope after Ebola: international aid leaves a health legacy for Guinea’s women, 30 August) did a great disservice to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The comments attributed to one of our employees misrepresented UNFPA’s response to the Ebola outbreak in Guinea. Jhpiego wants to express deep regret about these remarks, which do not represent our views of UNFPA’s valuable and lifesaving work in Guinea and elsewhere.
Our review of this issue has confirmed that UNFPA followed UN medical protocols in providing equipment and supplies to facilities providing emergency obstetric care during the Ebola crisis. UNFPA responded to the government’s request for equipment and supplies. This was accompanied by the provision of skilled international birth attendants alongside training for health workers, midwives and trainers in the country’s 410 public health centres and beyond. Since 2014, through UNFPA’s work, 685 healthcare workers in Guinea have received training, over 1,300 complicated childbirths have been supported in Guinea as well as many more regular deliveries and Caesarean sections, and over 100,000 antenatal checkups for pregnant women.
There is no partner in the field of reproductive, maternal and newborn health that Jhpiego values more than UNFPA. Throughout our 40-plus years of working together, UNFPA has been an exemplary leader in ensuring women receive superb reproductive health services.
Alain Damiba
Senior vice-president, technical leadership and global programmes, Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University
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• The caption on the photograph above was amended on 9 September 2016. An earlier version said the campaign banner was in Guinea.
