New country representative of UNFPA

Catherine Breen Kamkong has joined as the new country representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Bangladesh.

Catherine, an Australian national, has been serving the UN in various capacities since 2011. She brings with her over 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian response, said a UNFPA press release on Thursday.

The newly-appointed UNFPA country representative formally presented her credentials to Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain.

The adviser lauded the UNFPA's contributions to Bangladesh's achievements in maternal health, family planning, gender equality, women, adolescents and youth empowerment, and humanitarian response over the past decades.

Ms. Catherine said Bangladesh's steady progress in reducing maternal mortality is globally recognised. The country is also undergoing a profound demographic transition, with notable achievements across several indicators, including increased life expectancy, particularly among women.

She also noted that the UNFPA is committed to building on this success while tackling both persistent and emerging challenges, including addressing inequities, advancing gender equality and sexual and reproductive health, meeting the needs of adolescents and youth, ending gender-based violence and child marriage, and addressing the complex issues arising from population dynamics and climate change.

smunima@yahoo.com