On Wednesday 29th April, in a webinar hosted by Marie Stopes International and FP2020, representatives from across the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights sector came together to discuss how we can protect access to essential contraceptive commodities during Covid-19.
The Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, UNFPA, the UK’s Department for International Development, as well as Marie Stopes International and FP2020, shared the challenges they are currently facing, together with suggested next steps to ensure SRHR services can continue during these challenging times.
The webinar featured:
- Martyn Smith, Managing Director, FP2020, facilitating the discussion and introducing the range of global perspectives being shared in the webinar.
- Ben Light, Senior Policy Adviser, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Commodity Security at UNFPA covering UNFPA’s projections on how COVID-19 will impact supply chain and access to SRH services, what’s at risk of stock-outs, and what the UNFPA and partners are doing to secure supplies.
- Abebe Shibru, Country Director for Zimbabwe (PSZ), MSI, speaking about the impact of lockdowns and supply-chain challenges in Zimbabwe, what his team are doing to adapt programming and continue to serve women in the country, as well as what global partners can do now to protect services.
- Julia White, Global Family Planning VAN, Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition discussing the global initiatives to track reproductive supply chain and stock, and how partners can collaborate to ensure we have an accurate picture of stock availability and predicted stock-outs.
- Emma Foster, Senior Programme Manager, the UK’s Department for International Development, presenting DFID’s response to COVID-19 and their work to secure commodities through their global, regional, and bilateral SRHR programmes.
The presentations were followed by a question and answer session.
