Dear colleague,
Ten weeks ago now, our office quickly transitioned to a remote workforce. In addition to launching the COVID-19 and family planning resource page as well as this weekly newsletter, we also launched a social media campaign asking all of you: what are you doing to protect family planning in COVID-19 response?

Now, one month since we first asked the question, the community has answered, and the response has been inspiring. It shows the efforts our worldwide community has made to ensure that, even in a pandemic, women and girls can decide if, whether, or when to have a child. I encourage you to watch the videos we’ve been sent directly on our Youtube page, as well as many more on our Twitter. More than 1,000 people have tweeted about the campaign, including partners like UNFPA India, Population Council, Ugandan Youth and Adolescents Health Forum (UYAHF), Countdown 2030 Europe, Pathfinder International, Planned Parenthood Global, Knowledge Success, and Marie Stopes International, to name only a few. Will you join the conversation?

Whether you share a video or just text, you can find messages we’ve compiled here, as well as several animations. Just use the hashtag #FPinCOVIDresponse.

I look forward to hearing how you, too, are protecting access to family planning.

Beth Schlachter

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PROTECT FAMILY PLANNING IN COVID-19 RESPONSE?

One month ago, the Secretariat asked our community: what are you doing to protect family planning in COVID-19 response? Here’s what you said. Join the conversation with #FPinCOVIDresponse.

WATCH ALL THE VIDEOS

Traci Baird, President & CEO, Engender Health, USA

WATCH

Fardosa Osman, The First Lady of Garissa County, Kenya; and Director, Fountain Of Hope

WATCH

Gabrielle, IYAFP, DRC

WATCH

Dr. Shamsa Humayun, Vice President of Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Pakistan

WATCH

RESOURCES FROM THE FIELD

SEE ALL RESOURCES

PMNCH: Compendium of COVID-19 related partner resources on women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health

This compendium will be developed as a living repository of the most up-to-date guidance from UN agencies, particularly WHO, as well as PMNCH’s health care professional association members.

READ MORE

International Confederation of Midwives: Protecting Midwives to Sustain Care for Women, Newborns and their Families in the COVID-19 Pandemic

This Call to Action – issued on the International Day of the Midwife – calls on governments, donors, decision-makers, and health institutions to ensure the protection of midwives, women, and newborns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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LOOKING AHEAD

Safeguarding Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Center for Global Development
June 3, 9:30 am-10:45 am EDT ET
Register

Supporting and Transforming Social and Gender Norms for Family Planning

BreakthroughAction
June 4, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM EDT/13:00 – 14:15 GMT
Register

HIPs: Family Planning in Humanitarian Settings

HIP, IBP Network, and FP2020
June 4, 2020, 7:00 – 8:15 am EDT/11:00 – 12:15 pm GMT
Registration pending