UNFPA Regional Director Calls on VP Jallow Reaffirms Support for Health and Gender Priorities

By Mariatou Ngum & Abdou Mbye
The Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, on Thursday, 22 January received the Regional Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Central and West Africa, Dr. Senen Hounton, on a courtesy visit at his office at State House in Banjul.
The visit comes at a time when the partnership between UNFPA and the Government of The Gambia continues to register measurable progress in strengthening national health systems, improving frontline service delivery, and expanding access to quality sexual and reproductive health services across the country, particularly for women, adolescents, and underserved communities.
During the meeting, Vice President Jallow welcomed Dr. Hounton and commended UNFPA for its sustained support to The Gambia’s health and population programmes. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with development partners to advance national priorities in maternal health, reproductive rights, gender equality, and human capital development, in line with the country’s development agenda.
Dr. Hounton, for his part, expressed appreciation for the strong collaboration between UNFPA and the Government of The Gambia, noting that the country remains a key partner in the sub-region. He highlighted UNFPA’s ongoing interventions aimed at strengthening health systems, building the capacity of healthcare workers, and ensuring that women and young people have access to lifesaving sexual and reproductive health information and services.
The UNFPA Regional Director noted that his visit provides an important opportunity to engage with national leadership, assess progress made on UNFPA-supported programmes, and visit service delivery points benefiting from the organization’s support. He further reaffirmed UNFPA’s long-term commitment to supporting The Gambia’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality, address unmet needs in reproductive health, and promote the rights and well-being of women and girls.
Both sides underscored the importance of sustained collaboration in addressing emerging health and population challenges, including adolescent health, gender-based violence, and equitable access to healthcare services. They also emphasized the need for continued investment in health systems strengthening to ensure inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.
The courtesy visit reflects the shared commitment of UNFPA and the Government of The Gambia to advancing people-centred development and ensuring that no one is left behind, particularly the most vulnerable segments of society.