Catherine Breen Kamkong, the newly appointed UNFPA country representative in Bangladesh, presented her credentials to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday.
The foreign adviser commended UNFPA’s significant contributions to Bangladesh’s achievements in maternal health, family planning, gender equality, and youth empowerment. He highlighted the government’s commitment to continuing its partnership with UNFPA under Kamkong’s leadership.
Kamonk, an Australian national with over 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian response, expressed her honour in leading UNFPA at this pivotal moment. She acknowledged Bangladesh’s progress in reducing maternal mortality and improving life expectancy, particularly among women.
Reaffirming UNFPA’s commitment to its “three zeros” vision—zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence—Kamonk outlined priorities under the 2022–2026 country programme.
These include advancing sexual and reproductive health, empowering youth, promoting gender equality, and addressing the impacts of population dynamics and climate change.
UNFPA’s ongoing humanitarian efforts in Cox’s Bazar support 288 national midwives and women-friendly spaces for Rohingya refugees. Urban initiatives like the “Ma Jaan” mobile app have referred over 2,700 complex cases to emergency obstetric care.
Kamonk’s appointment aligns with Bangladesh’s goals to achieve SDG targets by 2030, focusing on equitable health services, ending gender-based violence, and building resilience amid demographic and climate challenges.