Millions of women are at risk

Accra, June 12, GNA - Funding for reproductive health supplies, including condoms and contraceptives, in developing countries is becoming fragile, according to a new 219-page report by Population Action International (PAI).

“If the infrastructure isn't there to get reproductive health supplies in the hands of couples who want them, you aren't helping people. It is time for policy makers to examine the realities facing women documented in this report,” said Amy Coen, President and CEO of PAI.

Countries to be affected are Ghana, Bangladesh, Mexico, Nicaragua, Tanzania, and Uganda.

A statement is Accra by the UNFPA called for renewed attention to reproductive health supplies to avoid putting the health of millions of women at risk.

Reproductive Health Supplies in the six countries on their themes and entry points in Policies, Systems and Funding, identified the challenges faced by the reproductive health programs funding constraints, combined with a weak commitment to prioritize the purchase of reproductive health supplies on the side of the recipient countries and a limited capacity for distribution, have created an unstable environment for supplies worldwide.

“Supplies are a strong barometer of the actual 'health' of health systems. Health care infrastructure and delivery systems are weakening. Our research shows that the availability of reproductive health supplies is precarious at the district and facility level, even when the central government has inventories of supplies, Dr. Karen Hardee, Vice-President for Research at PAI said.

More than 200 million women in the developing world have an unmet need for contraceptives. Meeting this demand would avert an estimated 52 million unintended pregnancies each year, thereby preventing 140,000 pregnancy related deaths, 505,000 children from losing their mothers and 22 million abortions.

The statement noted that population Action International uses research and advocacy to improve access to family planning and reproductive health care across the world so women and families can prosper and live in balance with the earth.

GNA