In a renewed push to improve reproductive health access in Uganda, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Joint Medical Store (JMS), has launched the distribution of reproductive health commodities worth UGX 7.4 billion to facilities across the country.
The effort falls under the EMPOWER initiative, a nationwide strategy aimed at expanding reproductive health services, particularly through Uganda’s Private Not-for-Profit (PNFP) health facilities that serve vulnerable and underserved communities.
Flagged off today in Kampala, the initiative will see thousands of critical supplies, including contraceptives and family planning materials, dispatched to support ongoing efforts to reduce maternal deaths and unplanned pregnancies, and to improve health outcomes for women and girls.
JMS, acting under its national mandate and existing agreement with the Ministry of Health, will handle the distribution logistics. Leveraging its established supply chain network, the organization is expected to ensure timely and efficient delivery to health facilities across the country.
UNFPA representatives at the event stressed that the availability of reproductive health commodities must be matched by reliable distribution systems and local access. The EMPOWER rollout is seen as a key response to ongoing gaps in service delivery and supply reliability.
The partnership reflects Uganda’s broader commitment to ensuring no woman is left behind when it comes to access to quality reproductive healthcare, an essential pillar of sustainable development and gender equity.