Can Contraception Services Be Made Disaster-proof?
A survey conducted by WHO in 105 countries to assess the impact of Covid-19 on essential services, estimated that family planning services were disrupted in 68% of the countries.
Representational Image/ Unsplash
Vinoj Manning, Dr S Shantha Kumari
2021-07-11T06:46:17+05:30
Can Contraception Services Be Made Disaster-proof?
outlookindia.com
2021-07-11T06:49:14+05:30
The last 15 months have led to tremendous disruption in the lives of people worldwide. Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on healthcare delivery systems - not just on critical services, but also on routine services including contraception. An analysis conducted by UNFPA and Avenir Health for 115 low-and middle-income countries in January 2021 estimated that 12 million women may have been unable to access family planning services as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. A survey conducted by WHO in 105 countries to assess the impact of Covid-19 on essential services, estimated that family planning services were disrupted in 68% of the countries. Closer home, the nationwide lockdown was enforced in mid-March 2020, and over these 15 months, the health system, in particular, has been severely impacted. Foundation for Reproductive Health Services (FRHS) India in their policy brief on impact of Covid-19 on India`s family planning program indicated there were at least 24 million couples who were not able to access contraception in 2020.