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A recent survey highlighted dysfunctions in contraceptive product availability and maternal and child health, particularly in rural areas.
To reverse this situation, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Public Health and Universal Health Coverage, launched a national dialogue on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in Abidjan.
At the start of the work, the Director-General of Health, Mamadou Samba, stressed the importance for stakeholders to ensure that health products reach all populations in optimal conditions, including those in remote areas. He also said that Côte d’Ivoire has implemented major reforms in the pharmaceutical sector, in particular the revision of the status of the New Public Health Pharmacies (NPSP), to improve access to pharmaceutical products.
Mamadou Samba noted that the Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Activities (Dap) had also modified its practices to ensure strict control over the flow of medicines into Côte d’Ivoire. However, he acknowledged that despite the progress made, improvements were still needed.
In a 2023 survey, Cécile Compaoré Zoungrana, UNFPA Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, revealed that 21% of service delivery points (PPS) did not have seven essential medicines for reproductive health, including essential oxytocin and magnesium sulfate.
She also noted that 5% of PPSs did not have a functional cold chain and 11% lacked qualified personnel to provide family planning services. She said the high-level dialogue provided a unique opportunity to identify concrete actions to strengthen the supply chain for reproductive health products.
The dialogue is in line with the commitments made by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, notably at the 12th Annual Meeting of the Partnership in Ouagadougou, whereby the State pledged to increase its annual financial contribution for the purchase of contraceptive products from 400 million to 2.5 billion CFA francs.
The increase aims to ensure that contraceptives are available at all public service points and that family planning services are provided free of charge throughout the territory, especially to young people and adolescents in public and community health centres.
In the face of challenges, Cécile Compaoré reiterated UNFPA’s determination to support the Government of Côte d’Ivoire in achieving maternal and reproductive health goals.
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