Reproductive Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. RMNCAH aims to protect and nurture the lives and wellbeing of newborns, children and young people to mature to adulthood, and to ensure all women and men are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. This includes a couple’s or individual’s right to:
- be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable choices of family planning and fertility regulation methods, and the right to access health-care services that will enable women to proceed safely through pregnancy and childbirth, and to produce a healthy infant.
- decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.
- make decisions concerning reproduction, free of discrimination, coercion and violence. In the exercise of this right, they should take into account the needs of their living and future children and their responsibilities towards the community.
The RMNCAH Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan has been developed to support the Government and all stakeholders within Vanuatu to work towards the full attainment of its sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR), with particular focus on women, girls and people with disability, whose limited power over their sexual and reproductive choices, and limited access to accurate information and relevant services can contribute to their vulnerability.
The document includes MNCAH Progress Page, indicators and targets.
