BEIJING, China, 11 December 2024 – To share the good practices on reproductive health and foster learning to further the development of reproductive health in China, the Centre for Women and Children’s Health of the National Health Commission (NHC) of China and the United Nations Fund (UNFPA) organized a national experience sharing meeting for its ninth country programme (CP9) for 2021-2025.

This meeting brought together over 20 experts, professionals, and programme managers from across the country, including representatives from the Contraceptive Management Center of NHC, Research Institute for Family Planning of NHC, China Family Planning Association, and China Population and Development Research Center, as well as representatives from Beijing, Shanxi, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Chongqing, who participated in person. It also attracted nearly 200 personnel from maternal and child health institutions at various levels who attended it online. 

Mr. Xu Zongyu, Deputy Director-General of the Centre for Women and Children’s Health of NHC reviewed the 45 years of cooperation between the Chinese Government and UNFPA, and affirmed the achievements of 20 years of collaboration in the field of reproductive health between the Center and UNFPA. Suggestions were made on further summarizing experiences and conducting experience sharing and international exchanges with other countries.

Ms. Ira Ovesen, Deputy Representative of UNFPA China, commended China’s achievements in maternal and child health. She emphasized that, with the demographic change in China, addressing new challenges, particularly adolescent health care and contraceptives service to address unintended pregnancies, and women’s mental health care throughout the life cycle is critical. 

"These efforts demonstrate how an integrated and life-cycle approach to sexual and reproductive health services delivery can ensure that no one is left behind, " she says.

During the meeting, Chongqing, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Beijing, and Shanxi maternal and child health hospitals respectively shared their experiences on adolescent health care, basic contraceptive service management, and integrating mental health into women’s health services across the life cycle, offering valuable insights into improving women’s physical and mental health and well-being.

As a participant and witness to the long-term collaboration between China and UNFPA in the field of sexual and reproductive health, Chongqing Maternal and Child Health Hospital reviewed the youth-friendly services initiated during the UNFPA’s sixth and seventh country programmes, which have continued to guide the advancement of adolescent health care.