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Securing the Supply in Times of Crisis
Humanitarian emergencies, whether caused by conflict or natural disasters, disrupt distribution and health care systems. Transportation routes may be cut off, distribution networks dissolved and health facilities destroyed. Shortages of supply compound health risks in already dangerous situations and are a major obstacle to providing reproductive health care.
Reproductive health supplies, equipment and medicine are organized and stored by UNFPA in preparation for immediate distribution when an earthquake, flood, violent conflict or other crisis arises. A rapid-response fund enables UNFPA to mount a quick response to emergencies, especially in the initial stages. The Fund can ship out supplies of condoms and other commodities within a few days of receiving a request. Once an emergency situation stabilizes, the procurement of reproductive health materials becomes a regular part of a more comprehensive health care programme.
Quick response saves lives, which is why UNFPA ships pre-packaged supplies directly to
emergency situations. These supplies help to implement the Minimum Initial Service Package – a set of objectives and activities for achieving certain minimum requirements in an emergency. The MISP was developed by the Inter-Agency Working Group for Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations, of which UNFPA is a founding member.
Reproductive health needs in the early phase of an emergency include:
- Safe delivery for births with and without skilled help
- Condoms to prevent STI transmission and unwanted pregnancy
- Contraceptives and family planning support
- Rape prevention and management
- STI prevention and drugs for treatment
- HIV/AIDS prevention
- Care after miscarriages and unsafe abortions
- Sutures and surgery for Caesarean sections and bleeding
- Safe blood transfusions and instructions on universal precautions
- Referrals for more advanced care
In 2003, UNFPA dispatched 334 reproductive health kits to 34 emergency destinations.
Access to a secure supply of condoms and contraceptives is difficult enough in normal times in many countries. Disaster compounds the difficulty, at a time when pregnancy is most likely to be unwanted or dangerous.
Free condoms are among the first reproductive health supplies to reach people caught in a crisis situation. They are in demand to prevent both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
Condoms are also the first step towards restoring family planning services. UNFPA provides both male and female condoms in emergencies.
Once an emergency situation is stabilized, UNFPA conducts rapid assessments to determine family planning needs, and supports efforts to make a wide range of modern methods available so that couples can maintain consistent and correct use of the contraceptive of their choice. At the same time, condom distribution and coverage need to be coordinated among government suppliers, the private sector and possibly social marketing programmes.
One out of five women in their childbearing years are likely to be pregnant in any given emergency. When disaster strikes, precarious conditions multiply the risks of childbearing. To help women through this particularly vulnerable period, UNFPA sends emergency reproductive health equipment and supplies that help make childbirth safer:
- Supplies for clean home deliveries include soap, plastic sheeting, razor blades, string, gloves and pictorial instruction sheets.
- Equipment and supplies for assisted deliveries at a health facility also include stethoscopes, thermometers, plastic aprons, latex gloves, syringes, sutures, sterile gauze pads, an intravenous infusion set, cotton wool, burn boxes for safe needle disposal, amoxicillin and other drugs.
- Equipment and supplies are also provided for resuscitation, suturing tears, disinfection and surgery.
- Comprehensive services for antenatal, delivery, post-partum care and breastfeeding support are organized as soon as the worst of the crisis is past.
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