Pacific Countries Agree on Plan to Secure Reproductive Health Commodities

UNITED NATIONS, New York— A Plan of Action on Reproductive Health Commodity Security, recently adopted by a group of Pacific countries, underscores the importance of reproductive health supplies for saving lives and improving health. The action plan, developed with support from UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, calls for people in the region to be able to choose, obtain and use reproductive health commodities whenever they need them.

Health ministers of the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu endorsed the plan of action on 20 May in Geneva where they were attending the World Health Assembly. The ministers also asked UNFPA to help them achieve reproductive health commodity security in their countries.

Developed in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Medical Trust, the plan of action states that Pacific countries should be helped to identify obstacles to a secure supply and a choice of quality condoms, contraceptives and other reproductive health commodities. These commodities should meet every person’s needs at the right time, at the right place, and in an acceptable manner.

The Pacific countries are scattered over an enormous area, and many of them comprise a number of small islands. The plan of action takes full account of the many geographical and natural disasters constraints and challenges facing these countries, as well as low contraceptive prevalence rates and high rates of teenage pregnancy, particularly among the young.

These factors make it essential for countries in the region to collaborate in buying commodities in bulk and storing them in a centrally located warehouse. Such a facility has already been built in Fiji and is due to open soon. The facility will ensure that commodities are stored under appropriate conditions and that each island country would be able to obtain the supplies it needs in a cost-effective and immediate manner.

The plan of action also addresses issues related to maternal health and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, as well as the inclusion of reproductive health commodities in national budgets.

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UNFPA is the world's largest multilateral source of population assistance. Since it became operational in 1969, it has provided help to developing countries, at their request, to meet reproductive health needs and support development efforts.

Contact Information:

Abubakar Dungus
Tel.: +1 (212) 297-5031
Email: dungus@unfpa.org

Omar Gharzeddine
Tel.: +1 (212) 297-5028
Email: gharzeddine@unfpa.org