WHGI Publications & Resources

Case Study: Advocacy in Zanzibar Leads to Reduction in Family Planning Commodity Stock-outs

Publication Year: 2015

Having ready access to contraception entails an intricate series of steps, from the manufacturer and supplier to the buyer and medicines warehouse and shipper—eventually reaching an individual health provider and user. Any small breakdown in this system creates a bottleneck in supply and potentially serious consequences for couples who cannot access contraception. AWLN is a network of women leaders from 15 African countries working to strengthen global advocacy efforts for reproductive health and family planning. The network is a regional partner in the Advance Family Planning (AFP) advocacy initiative. AWLN’s focused research and advocacy in Zanzibar led the Director of the Central Medical Stores (CMS) to issue a directive for family planning service providers in all ten districts to undergo re-training in the local logistics management system. This re-training contributed to an impressive 70 percent drop in family planning commodity forecasting errors at the facility level within five months.

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