| 24
- 25 October, 2007
The
Executive Director represents PPD
at the RH Supply Coalition Meeting
Washington DC, USA —
PPD
has been a long-term collaborative
partner and a founding member of the
RH Supply Coalition. Based on the
common interest of ensuring RH supply
and security in developing countries,
both the organizations work in close
collaboration and assist each other
towards achieving their shared goals.
The Coalition convened its Eighty
Semi-Annual Membership Meeting in
Washington, DC on 24-25 October 2007.
While the Eighth membership meeting
focused on ensuring commodity security
in Latin America, the specific objectives
of the membership meeting were to:
-
Update members on current Coalition
activities, initiatives, and developments.
- Share
successes and challenges in ensuring
reproductive health commodity security
from Latin America and the Caribbean
(LAC) that are highly relevant for
developing countries in other regions.
- Emphasize
the lessons learned in LAC regarding
financing mechanisms, supply chain
management under health sector reform,
advocacy, the private sector, reaching
the underserved, and data for decision-making.
The
membership meeting held in two main
segments; Executive Committee Meeting
and Panel discussions on different
aspects of commodity supply and security
issues in the Latin America. The Executive
Committee Meeting reviewed the progress
of the Coalition since the last meeting
held in London in April 2007.
The
substantive session commenced with
an overview of the history of the
Family Planning movement in Latin
America, including its successes and
challenges. Participants analyzed
the roles of different sectors (government,
NGO, civil society) in mobilizing
and leveraging resources in the context
of donor phase-out of contraceptive
supplies; the importance of leadership
from the Ministry of Health in creating
a supportive policy environment for
contraceptive security; and the value
of civil society engagement in resource
mobilization and policy implementation
efforts.
The
panellists also reviewed key considerations
facing the international donor community,
policymakers, family planning managers,
and logistics advisors as they design
and implement reforms for logistics
systems functions. Participants shared
the successes and challenges regarding
innovative procurement agreements,
use of procurement agents, and maintaining
contraceptive security in integrated
and decentralized logistics systems.
The
“Female Condom Consortium”
established in the Netherlands in
May 2007 jointly by Oxfam (Novib),
the World Population Foundation (WPF)
and the Dutch Government was introduced
to the participants. Drawing on experience
derived from the introduction and
distribution of the female condom,
the panellists reviewed the challenges
of ensuring broad method choice, innovative
financing, role of women and alternative
product sourcing.
[
] |
|
|
