Recorded presentation

Mimi Whitehouse, MBA, Logistics Services, JSI Research and Training, 1616 North Fort Myer Dr, Arlington, VA 22209, 703-528-7474, Mimi_Whitehouse@jsi.com

BACKGROUND: Throughout the world, reproductive health programs are facing a growing crisis as a result of a lack of supplies which are essential for HIV/AIDS prevention, family planning, contraception and other vital sexual and reproductive health care services. The Supply Initiative (SI) has been set up to call attention to this crisis as well as to increase the availability and efficient use of human, institutional and financial resources for reproductive health supplies. One product of the SI is the RHInterchange, a web-based information sharing system that will initially consolidate procurement data from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). The RHInterchange seeks to address the need for better coordination and management of commodity programs by capturing in a single system reproductive health supply information from these three major donors, and eventually other public sector providers, multi- and bilateral agencies, non-governmental organizations and governments. The data includes previous and current contraceptive procurements and related forecasted needs, by country, for major donors. CONCLUSION: The RHInterchange should interest managers of in-country programs, researchers, and government officials, as a means to manage their programs more efficiently. Through this session introduction, participants will understand the value and application of the RHInterchange, and how to access the information.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to

• Describe the RHInterchange and explain its relevance to advocacy, donor coordination, and program planning for long-term Reproductive Health commodity security;
• Employ the data available through the RHInterchange for academic research;
• Use the data for monitoring RHCS status and planning RH and HIV/AIDS programs.

Keywords: International Reproductive Health, Policy/Policy Development

Related Web page: www.rhsupplies.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Supply Initiative
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: RHInterchange project manager

Recorded presentation