Population timebomb defused
Supply of contraceptives restored
ELIZABETH JOSEPH
The lack of contraceptives at state healthcare facilities has been resolved, says Ben Nangombe, the health ministry’s executive director.
Nangombe says there has been a constant inflow of a variety of contraceptives in recent months.
In May and June, there was fear of thousands of unplanned pregnancies because of logistic problems related to the Covid-19 state of emergency that held up consignments at ports and factories.
Since then, logistics channels have started opening and by the end of July most contraceptives and other pharmaceuticals were back in stock at the health ministry’s Central Medical Store (CMS).
Contraceptives such as Nordette (tablet), Triphasil (tablet), Jadelle (implants), Diane (tablet), Norethisterone (Nur-Isterate) injection, and Medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera) injection were received in June and then distributed to clinics countrywide.
Most health facilities in the country have now been restocked with contraceptives. The CMS has also issued purchase orders to replenish contraceptive stocks following the distribution of those received earlier.
“We aim to strengthen and ensure a reliable supply of these critical health commodities. The ministry has therefore decided to procure more contraceptives through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) using the pooled procurement mechanisms. Procuring through pooled procurement mechanisms has a triple benefits of cost savings, value for money, and reliable delivery times,” Nangombe says.
Without efforts to replenish stocks, it was estimated that between 23 400 and 92 900 women in Namibia could be unable to use contraception, resulting in 585 to 27 900 unintended pregnancies.
National sexual and reproductive health community outreach coordinator Risto Mushongo expressed fear that the abrupt closure of schools and recreational centres for social gatherings could lead girls and young women to engage in intergenerational and transactional sex to pass the time.
“We fear for young women and girls – especially in the Zambezi, Kavango East and West, Ohangwena, Khomas and Omusati regions, because there are no activities to keep them occupied as schools and youth centres are not accessible to them as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said in early June.
Further discussions with the health ministry and other stakeholders are under way to ensure a more consistent supply of contraceptives to all parts of the country.
The lack of contraceptives at state healthcare facilities has been resolved, says Ben Nangombe, the health ministry’s executive director.
Nangombe says there has been a constant inflow of a variety of contraceptives in recent months.
In May and June, there was fear of thousands of unplanned pregnancies because of logistic problems related to the Covid-19 state of emergency that held up consignments at ports and factories.
Since then, logistics channels have started opening and by the end of July most contraceptives and other pharmaceuticals were back in stock at the health ministry’s Central Medical Store (CMS).
Contraceptives such as Nordette (tablet), Triphasil (tablet), Jadelle (implants), Diane (tablet), Norethisterone (Nur-Isterate) injection, and Medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera) injection were received in June and then distributed to clinics countrywide.
Most health facilities in the country have now been restocked with contraceptives. The CMS has also issued purchase orders to replenish contraceptive stocks following the distribution of those received earlier.
“We aim to strengthen and ensure a reliable supply of these critical health commodities. The ministry has therefore decided to procure more contraceptives through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) using the pooled procurement mechanisms. Procuring through pooled procurement mechanisms has a triple benefits of cost savings, value for money, and reliable delivery times,” Nangombe says.
Without efforts to replenish stocks, it was estimated that between 23 400 and 92 900 women in Namibia could be unable to use contraception, resulting in 585 to 27 900 unintended pregnancies.
National sexual and reproductive health community outreach coordinator Risto Mushongo expressed fear that the abrupt closure of schools and recreational centres for social gatherings could lead girls and young women to engage in intergenerational and transactional sex to pass the time.
“We fear for young women and girls – especially in the Zambezi, Kavango East and West, Ohangwena, Khomas and Omusati regions, because there are no activities to keep them occupied as schools and youth centres are not accessible to them as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said in early June.
Further discussions with the health ministry and other stakeholders are under way to ensure a more consistent supply of contraceptives to all parts of the country.
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