Pascale Allotey, Director, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research including UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP)
September marks two months since I took office as the Director of the WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research. I am humbled by the opportunity to lead and serve towards the achievement of sexual and reproductive health and rights
for all.
I look forward to celebrating
with you, as the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) marks fifty years of our collective endeavour to improve sexual and reproductive health. From those early efforts to establish a United Nations programme on human reproduction, to our thriving portfolio driving research, implementation and improvement across intersecting elements of sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing,
we have come a very long way in ensuring people have access to what is rightfully theirs. Together with our partners we can be proud of what has been achieved – but we also know challenges remain. Sexual and reproductive health and rights remain
a challenge for many, which signifies threats to the health and well-being of people everywhere.
Highlights for this issue include a major HRP clinical trial, funded by Unitaid and based on our previous research, looking into the safety and efficacy of heat-stable Carbetocin to treat post-partum haemorrhage. Innovation in cold chain approaches could increase the
availability of treatment to prevent life-threatening bleeding during childbirth in countries where nearly 94% of all maternal deaths occur.
Building local capacity and communicating broadly are foundational to lasting impact. I am passionate about expanding the diversity of contributors to global debates and decision making – particularly in evidence generation. As such, I am delighted
to share Rachidatou Compaoré’s story, and to see the contribution of the HRP Alliance for Research Capacity Strengthening toward her work and the careers of many others.
I would also like to reiterate the importance of access to safe abortion and post abortion care reinforced by the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Sexual and reproductive rights belong to everyone. On 28 September, International Safe Abortion Day, WHO and HRP will launch a collection of photos showing personal perspectives and positive benefits of comprehensive abortion care and post-abortion care,
in four WHO Regions. We hope this work will contribute toward saving lives, reducing stigma, and in turn, normalizing abortion care as an essential health service.
There is no universal health coverage without sexual and reproductive health and rights. In July, we launched two new tools for evidence-based strategies to support robust integration of sexual and reproductive health services within national health strategies:
the Learning by Sharing Portal and the handbook, Critical considerations for achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health in the context of universal health coverage. Both tools lead with evidence but centre the individual, with stories and case
studies lifting technical guidance off the page. Please take the time to browse through them online.
On a final note, I highly recommend the Health For All Film and panel, which WHO contributed to. This is just one example of how we can use
storytelling to share and connect our work broadly across different audiences, to ensure every person’s right to sexual and reproductive health is respected, defended and celebrated.
I look forward to using this space to highlight our latest news, research and activities, to share our plans, and to encourage you to get in touch and share yours. Do write to us at srhhrp@who.int and follow us on Twitter at @HRPresearch. We welcome your creative ideas on how to commemorate 50 years of HRP.