Encouraging Country-Led Strategies to Ensure Contraceptive Security in Ghana

1. Encouraging Country-Led Strategies to Ensure Contraceptive Security in Ghana International Conference on Family Planning Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 14 November 2013

2. BACKGROUND • Challenges to ensure commodity security exist, including FP commodities • Inter-Agency Coordination Committee for Contraceptive Security (ICC/CS) was created by the MOH in 2002 • First national contraceptive security strategic plan adopted by MOH and its partners in 2004, with a current strategic plan (expanded to cover RH commodities) covering 2011-2016. • Strengths and challenges described in the plan in seven areas from the policy environment to client demand and commodity management

3. CS STRATEGY KEY OBJECTIVES • Influence and improve the policy and sociocultural environment to advocate and support RH and FP commodities and services • Strengthen the commitment and capacity of stakeholders at all levels to advocate for and work toward sustained RHCS • Advocate for and ensure increased and sustained funding for FP commodities and services

4. CS STRATEGY KEY OBJECTIVES (2) • Strengthen coordination and information sharing among all stakeholders in order to enhance and sustain RHCS • Create demand for and increase utilization of high-quality contraceptives • Ensure availability of and access to quality contraceptives and other RH commodities at all levels of health care in all sectors (public, private, NGO, and social marketing) • Strengthen the national logistics system for FP and other RH commodities.

5. SIGNIFICANCE CS as a key component in: • Achieving the 2015 MDG 5 goal of improving MMR and universal access to RH • Reinvigorating the stable CPR • Encouraging government’s ownership to sustain the enabling policy environment and propel financing for contraceptives

6. Country Ownership of the Process MOH/GHS actively leads— • Forecast of commodity requirements and planning of required quantities/shipments • Preparation of PPMR (collects, analyzes, and shares national-level stock status and current shipments details with national and global stakeholders) • Facilitation of the ICC/CS meetings to share, discuss, and harmonize country-level CS with partners

7. CS Inputs, Outputs and Outcomes • Improved FP commodity availability • Increased transparency on country stock status • Strengthened information sharing nationally and globally to mitigate stock challenges • Improved coordination among stakeholders • Responsiveness and funding from donors

8. Ghana CPR from 1988 –2011

9. Lessons Learned • Country-led information management among all stakeholders in the different sectors ensures sustainability • Reliable user-level data provides measurement of forecast accuracy and increases donor confidence in quantification results • Institutionalized supply plan periodic reviews leads to timely responses to changes

10. Lessons Learned (continued) • Coordinated stakeholders responses to supply chain challenges lead to better planning, flexibility, and timely interventions at all levels • Encouraged ownership allows MOH to use information for decisions regarding regional contraceptive supply challenges • Transfer of commodities to and from other ECOWAS countries

11. CONTINUING CHALLENGES • Country-wide supply chain management issues (quality, distribution, information management) • Programming – engagement of other populations, task shifting, myths & misconceptions • Complete engagement of all multisectorial stakeholders

12. conclusion Country-led interventions lead to improved CS Improved CS leads to satisfied clients Satisfied clients mean a happy nation INSERT GRAPHIC TO ADD PHOTO

13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ministry of Health Ghana Health Service ICC/CS Members USAID|DELIVER PROJECT Thank you for your interest and attention