To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the Maputo Plan of Action; and how he intends to support the African Union and African national governments' implementation of the Maputo Plan of Action. (173218)

DFID fully supports the aims of the African Union Maputo Plan of Action on Maternal health which is consistent with the DFID strategy 'Reducing maternal deaths: evidence and action'.

At regional level, DFID works closely with the African Union Commission and others responsible for the Maputo Plan.

DFID recently pledged an additional £100 million over five years to the UNFPA global programme for reproductive health commodity security (GPRHCS). The aim is to increase sexual and reproductive health supplies in developing countries and to develop capacity to resolve problems of sexual reproductive health commodity insecurity.

We will continue to work closely with governments. For example, in Sierra Leone we are providing £50 million over the next 10 years to rebuild the health system to deliver basic services in sexual, reproductive and child health. In Kenya DFID is supporting a £7.5 million essential health services project over five years, working alongside the government and with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the European Commission (EC). This will include strengthening reproductive maternal health services (in Nyanza province) and the provision of socially marketed contraceptives.