It is estimated 500,000 women die in the developing world annually due to pregnancy related causes and 350 million women do not have access to any form of contraception. In the Irish aid programme, the area of sexual and reproductive health is integral to the development of a broad based health service, the creation of equal opportunities for women through the education system and the fight against HIV/AIDS. As one of our important development partners, Ireland Aid is supporting the work of UNFPA to extend assistance to developing countries to help them deal with such development challenges as maternal and infant mortality, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health care.