INVITATION: Stop Stockouts Project launches access to contraceptives in South African public health clinics report

We cordially invite you to join us for a hybrid launch of the Stop Stockouts’ new research report entitled “Stop Stockouts Project: Access to contraceptives in South African public health clinics between April and June 2022.”  

The event will be held on Tuesday, 30 August 2022 from 11 am until 12.30 pm.

Key findings from the report indicate that contraceptives now represent the biggest share of medicines stockouts in the public healthcare system. Moreover, the impact of these contraceptive stockouts falls squarely on women and girls. This Women’s Month, the Stop Stockouts Project draws attention to the ongoing problem of contraceptive stockouts across the country and calls on government to ensure a reliable supply of preferred contraceptives.

To attend in person, please kindly click here to RSVP or on a link on the attached invite or to join online, register here or on the link in the invite attached. If you encounter any challenges, please contact: Angela Makamure: MSF Media Liaison and Southern Africa Links Coordinator on: angela.makamure@joburg.msf.org | +27 84 9777 553 or Patience Phiri, Section 27 Head of Communications on: phiri@section27.org.za

WHAT TO EXPECT?

There will be a panel discussion with some representatives of organisations constituting the SSP on what the findings of the report mean for women’s sexual and reproductive health.

• Dr Indira Govender - Indira Govender is a public health medicine specialist and member of the Rural Doctors Association of South Africa. She has been a part of the SSP steering committee since its foundation in 2013.

• Baone Twala - Baone Twala has a heart for the more vulnerable members of society. Consequently, her interests revolve around systems: how they work and how they can be improved through law and policy. Baone has an extensive background and understanding on human rights, public interest law and policy issues. She previously worked at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, the Constitutional Court of South Africa and the Supreme Court of Kenya. She is currently part of the health rights team at SECTION27 where she works as a researcher focusing access to medicine, HIV and the Law, and the Right to Food.

• Lucy O’Connell - Lucy O’Connell is a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) nurse and currently works as a Key Populations Advisor in Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Southern Africa Medical Unit (SAMU). With over 20 years of experience, she has a particular interest in promoting comprehensive accessible services for key populations, adolescents and young women, through engagement and empowerment of peers within health care delivery.

• Sihle Shabalala - Sihle Shabalala is a Nurse by profession, but her activism drew her to work for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), where she works as the Provincial Manager in Mpumalanga. She has contributed to the development of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Clubs in the province. Her vision is to see SRHR being prioritised because it gives women the option to make autonomous decisions about their own bodies and sexuality.