PMNCH: Essential Commodities for MNCH
The availability of affordable and relevant commodities, such as clinical equipment and medicine, clearly plays a critical role in improving the health outcomes. However, commodities have traditionally been delivered by vertical programmes. Outcomes for PA 3 include:
- Consensus reached on the supply component of evidence-based MNCH interventions and a basket of essential commodities identified;
- A set of tools and guidance material agreed and used by partners for country MNCH commodity supply management;
- Partners’ supply management system harmonized, agreed upon and implemented in up to 25 countries;
- Global availability and efficiency in procurement by innovative ways identified.
Country studies examine barriers to maternal health supplies
As part of an effort to better become familiar with the key issues hampering maternal health commodity security, The Partnership has partially funded two country studies on critical barriers to accessing maternal health supplies in Uganda and Bangladesh. The studies, conducted by Population Action International, trace the availability of four commodities that reduce maternal mortality: oxytocin, misoprostal, magnesium sulfate and MVAs.