As the COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems since early 2020, its impact has been particularly devastating among vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. In Ghana, where already limited resources have been shifted to cope with COVID-19, a deep and critical need has increased to provide women and girls with access to safe and high-quality sexual and reproductive health services as well as accurate information related to COVID-19 prevention. The reason for the elevated need is in part due to increased sexual and gender-based violence and unintended pregnancies under COVID-19 restrictions and less pre- and post- natal care amid the fear of infection at health facilities.

With grant support from the Astellas Global Health Foundation (Foundation) awarded in August 2020, the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) implemented a one-year program to train adult and youth community health volunteers in universal infection prevention measures including appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as pharmacists and healthcare workers in targeted health facilities to foster improved access to quality and respectful sexual reproductive healthcare amid COVID-19. Among progress to date:

• Trained 260+ community volunteers and 70+ pharmacy staff in infection prevention and control measures, and appropriate use of PPE
• Trained 130+ additional healthcare workers in several areas, including infection prevention and control, contact tracing and follow-ups, managing suspected cases in the community, special care for pregnant women, and transport and translocation of COVID-19 patients
• Procured PPE, contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health items in short supply, and distributed these items to trained staff and targeted health facilities
• Developed and integrated new communication strategies for COVID-19 response with community health volunteers, pharmacy staff, healthcare workers and others facilitating sexual and reproductive health educational activities.

Upcoming JOICFP efforts will focus on additional procurement and distribution of contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health items, engagement of community health volunteers, pharmacies and health facilities, delivery of services, and communications activities.

PPE is distributed to healthcare workers at multiple facilities in Ghana to strengthen the community COVID-19 response in enabling the delivery of quality access to sexual and reproductive care.

“The Astellas Global Health Foundation is deeply committed to supporting efforts that improve access to health in the poorest countries where resources are in highest need,” said Kazuhiro Sako, member of the Foundation Board of Directors. “Our relationship with JOICFP underscores the extensive focus we are placing on supporting the heroic work done by organizations challenged by COVID-19 to help make a meaningful difference for patients and those trying to help them.”