Reproductive Health Supplies in West Africa Unmet Need Realistic Expectations The Sub-Region’s Call to Action Dr. Kabba Joiner Director General West African Health Organization (WAHO) Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition November 2004

Background – West African Health Status High Maternal Mortality (1,100 per 100,000 live births) High Infant Mortality (99 per 1,000 live births) Low CPR (14%) High Unmet Need (25%) Sources: Women of Our World 2002, Population Reference Bureau, Demographic and Health Surveys (various countries), State of World Population 2003, UNFPA, UNAIDS 2002.

Background – Contraceptive Insecurity in West Africa Source: John Snow, Inc./DELIVER and The Futures Group International/POLICY Project Contraceptive Security Index 2003: A Tool for Priority Setting and Planning.

The Sub-region’s Response  2003 ECOWAS Health Ministers ask WAHO and partners to explore sub-regional options to improve reproductive health commodity security Sustainable financing Pooled procurement Improved logistics Private sector expansion  2004 Ministers call on WAHO, Member States, and partners to take specific actions to improve reproductive health commodity security Ministers adopt WAHO strategy to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality Ministers endorse Africa regional strategy to reposition family planning

Health Ministers’ Recommendations  ECOWAS Members States should introduce a budgetary line for family planning in their national budgets.  Member States should implement “informed buying” to support country procurement of reproductive health commodities, with technical support from WAHO and partners.  WAHO should convene a meeting of donors to mobilize resources for reproductive health commodity security.  WAHO and partners should prepare a sub-regional commodity security strategic plan.

So …. Commitment to reproductive health commodity security is growing from within the sub-region But, donor resources are declining relative to the challenge How, then, can the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition support this commitment?

What can the Coalition and its Members DO?  Support WAHO to convene donors and partners in the sub-region  Increase and sustain assistance to ECOWAS Member States for contraceptives and other reproductive health supplies  At the same time, work with Member States to introduce and fund budget lines for reproductive health commodities and to transition from donor support  Use the comparative advantages of coalition members to strengthen planning and coordination for strategic allocation of resources  Provide technical support for development of “informed buying” by Member States  Help strengthen WAHO’s leadership for reproductive health commodity security through donor coordination, advocacy, monitoring  Provide technical support to WAHO to develop a sub-regional strategy for reproductive health commodity security

Thank you

Background – Inadequate Financing