Sustaining family planning systems during COVID-19

2020 is a year unlike any other, and COVID-19 has brought to the fore the weaknesses in our health systems and opportunities for improvement. All services have been affected and family planning is no different.

Despite many years of gains, the need has gone up, not down, as population size has increased and services have not kept up with demand for contraceptive care. This was the case even before the pandemic. At the same time, organizations like JSI have helped more young people than ever access services, so there is cause for optimism.

Now we must focus on innovations and proven strategies: maintaining the supply chain of essential contraceptives, using telemedicine visits, prescribing longer-term and self-administered contraception, and expanding private-sector provision. Services today depend on our ability to evolve and adapt sexual and reproductive health programs.

This World Population Day, we are highlighting examples of how our programs in the United States and internationally have pivoted to continue to meet people’s demand for family planning. We have new toolkits and lessons, as well as a fun social media campaign that is helping couples in the U.S. find services in this time of COVID-19.

Elaine Rossi
Senior Technical Advisor, Family Planning & Reproductive Health