Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108314

Lisa Hare, MPH, Chris Wright, and Wendy Abramson, MPH. DELIVER, John Snow, Inc., 1616 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1100, Arlington, VA 22209, 703-528-7474, lhare@jsi.com

The IBP Initiative improves access and quality of reproductive health through a systematic approach focused on developing and supporting strategies that introduce, adapt, and apply evidence based practices in RH. USAID, UNFPA, and technical partners have developed the Strategic Pathway to Reproductive Health Commodity Security (SPARHCS), which is consistent with the IBP goal. SPARHCS helps address RH commodity security—the ability of clients to choose, obtain, and use quality RH products—through a comprehensive and strategic examination of and approach to the multiple components of reproductive health. As a framework, SPARHCS helps stakeholders understand how various elements (i.e, supply, demand, capacity, resource mobilization, logistics, policy, donor coordination, whole market roles, etc) interrelate and impact RH. Stakeholders use SPARHCS as a guide to comprehensively and strategically assess the RH situation in country as the foundation for evidence based planning.

After pilot tests in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Madagascar, SPARHCS was implemented in eleven other countries. These experiences have shown how the tool can be used in various ways and how results have provided valuable data for decision making. Stakeholders found that SPARHCS built onto existing work in their countries and that the process was as important as the results. Moreover, the SPARHCS process fostered a coordinated, collaborative, and ongoing dialogue among diverse stakeholders, and, in many cases, it was the first time that the various stakeholders worked together to address system-wide issues. Participation also contributed to strengthening local capacity and local ownership of RHCS.

Learning Objectives:

• Define RH commodity security and list its key components
• Describe the better practice of applying a holistic, multisectoral approach to address commodity security
• Identify strategies for strengthening RHCS at the country level (through global, regional and national approaches)

Related Web page: www.maqweb.org/sparhcs/index.shtml

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation