Statement by UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, on the Zika Virus

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is closely monitoring the outbreak of the Zika virus and warning about its potentially adverse effects on the health of women and babies, particularly in Latin America. We are also closely monitoring its possible spread to other regions.

UNFPA will continue to lead efforts to promote widespread information about the virus and about voluntary family planning.  Given reported cases of Zika virus transmission through sexual contact, the role of UNFPA as the world’s leading agency on reproductive and maternal health, and the biggest public sector supplier of family planning commodities, including condoms, is ever more pertinent.

Women and girls should be able to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and family planning methods, and to protect themselves and their babies if they decide to be pregnant. UNFPA will continue to work with countries around the world to scale up access to information and to a wide range of voluntary family planning commodities so that women can make informed decisions and protect themselves.