The USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) in Angola has increased access to contraception across the country’s 18 provinces through a convening of international donors, implementers and government stakeholders to improve supply chain efficiencies, close information gaps and resulting in improved commodity security.
Speaking during a visit to the East and Southern Africa (ESA) Regional Hub, Ladi Stephen, Chemonics Country Director and USAID implementing partner, commended the collaborative nature of the partnership to ensure that women and girls have access to contraceptives.
“This collaborative encounter marks a pivotal step in this journey on our shared commitment to empowering women and girls through free and informed family planning choices. With funding from USAID, we provide technical assistance and procure the approved contraceptives for distribution across the 18 provinces in the country to ensure that women and girls have access to high-quality family planning products.”
GHSC-PSM is tasked with the procurement, distribution of commodities and building the capacity of the Ministry of Health (MOH) staff.
A combination of factors that include underfunding of family planning programs by the central government and a lack of coordination between several government departments presented multiple challenges in the supply of critical medicines including family planning contraceptives.
“Previously, poor communication and management errors resulted in key health commodities being lost or expiring in the warehouse shelves, but with the committee’s improved communication and transparency, partners and GHSC-PSM can ensure that these supplies are distributed in a timely manner to those who need them.”
Speaking during the visit, ESA Hub Managing Director Sheila Macharia, commended all the actors in the family planning supply chain for ensuring that essential contraceptives reach every woman and girl, giving them the opportunity to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
“The work being done here in Angola is commendable, especially in that it seeks to bring all the partners together rather than working in silos. We believe with all the partners on board we can achieve more by deliberately placing family planning at the center of the development agenda,” said Macharia.
The Partners Logistics Committee for the coordination of Reproductive Health and Contraceptives Commodities is an open forum for stakeholders active in reproductive health and maternal and child health in Angola. Participants include the Angola Ministry of Health, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), USAID, the World Bank, PSI, the World Health Organization, and GHSC-PSM.
