SOUTH AFRICA— The Sweden Strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Africa 2022-2026, has presented an investment package of US$42 Million to bolster United Nations (UN) agencies’ SRHR efforts in East and Southern Africa.

The funding will go to SRHR projects in the region of four United Nations agencies i.e., United Nations AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The funding is geared to support countries and regional entities in East and Southern Africa to reduce maternal mortality including from unsafe abortion, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unmet need for contraceptives, and gender-based violence (GBV).

The investment brings to US$99 million the total amount committed by Sweden since 2018.

In a joint statement representing, UNAIDS Regional Director Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNFPA Regional Director Lydia Zigomo, UNICEF Regional Director Mohamed Fall and WHO Regional Director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the agencies recognized the contributions of Sweden in the region.

“We are proud that, as four UN agencies working together, we have created a regional movement of government, civil society and development partners committed to improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all people in East and Southern Africa, using an integrated approach,” the statement said.

The statement further noted that the investment by Sweden will enable this partnership to conclude the unfinished business and to fast-track the realization of the SRHR targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Despite progress made to date, the region is unlikely to ensure universal access to SRHR by 2030, without a concerted effort.

The statement noted that across the region, too many pregnant women die from preventable causes.

Furthermore, one in five women in the region who need to use modern contraceptives is not using them, with adolescents and young women having the highest unmet need, resulting in high levels of early and unintended pregnancies.

The joint statement noted that HIV remained the single biggest threat to people’s sexual and reproductive health, with close to 670,000 new HIV infections occurring in the region in 2021, of which one-quarter were among adolescents and young women.

Additionally, one in six adolescents and young women will have experienced GBV by the age of 19.

The UN agencies reiterated that progress continues to be challenged by structural, social and health system barriers.

Moreso, restrictive laws, policies and traditional and cultural practices give rise to stigma and discrimination, which limit people’s ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights.

Moreover, health systems challenges – including inadequate domestic investments in health, poor infrastructure, stock-outs of essential commodities and supplies, and limited skilled personnel –undermine the health outcomes of people across the region.

Many countries are becoming increasingly vulnerable to humanitarian crises because of, climate change, and socio-economic and geo-political shocks, with the health systems inadequately prepared to respond to such shocks and crises.

H.E. Ambassador Håkan Juholt Ambassador of Sweden to South Africa said, “The Swedish government remains committed to working alongside regional partners and countries to realize this continent’s aspirations to ensure SRHR for all, in line with the AU Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. We are excited that this investment aligns with efforts to support the regional SRHR initiative by the wider Team Europe group.”

Amb. Juholt noted that the continued support from Sweden will enable the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme to fast-track efforts to achieve universal access to SRHR.

Furthermore, this will be done by supporting laws and policies that empower people to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights, and ensuring that they can access quality, integrated and people centred SRHR services that meet their needs, including in times of crisis.

“With a comprehensive approach to SRHR, the social and cultural norms that give rise to the stigma and discrimination that impede people’s rights, health and well-being will be identified and tackled,” affirmed Amb. Juholt.

The region’s SRHR efforts through the 2gether 4 SRHR programme

UNFPA- East and Southern Africa notes that over the past four years, Sweden has invested US$57 million in the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme.

This investment has supported regional and national partners to develop laws, policies, and strategies, and advocated for greater domestic investments in SRHR.

Moreover, if realised, these investments will enable the 633 million people living in the region – the majority of whom are young people – to exercise their rights to bodily autonomy, to decide freely when and whether to have children, to realise their full potential, and contribute towards the socio-economic development of the region.

At a regional level, the programme supported the East and African and Southern African Development Community to develop SRHR frameworks aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the development of scorecards.

UNFPA also notes that the scorecards enable the region to measure progress towards SDGs and act as an early warning system to countries and the region of areas lagging that need to be addressed.

The 2gether 4 SRHR summarises that 12 countries were supported to provide integrated people-centred SRH services, with results showing an increased uptake.

Moreover, in five countries, women accessing gender-based violence services were more likely to receive ART to prevent HIV, and emergency contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancies. 

The reports also note that in 6 countries, women accessing comprehensive abortion-care services in accordance with the laws of their country were more likely to be tested for HIV, screening for STIs, and receive information, counselling, and contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancies.

As well as in Five countries reported an increase in the number of women accessing contraceptive services and being screened for HIV and STIs. Most countries successfully contributed towards the 90-90-90 HIV targets by ensuring that 90% of pregnant women were tested for HIV and screened for STIs.

The innovative cross-cutting UN programme harnessed the effectiveness of community-based approaches, such as mentoring mothers and community health-care workers, to minimize the disruption to essential SRHR services, in particular the use of contraceptives, and ensure that people living with HIV were able to receive services.

Lessons showed that providing an integrated package of services for people not only improves the uptake of services but reduces transport costs, waiting times and congestion, and improves client retention.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.