Devex: Opinion: SRHR puts the ‘universal’ in universal health coverage
Susan Papp, managing director of policy and advocacy at Women Deliver

“…If the world’s leaders really want to get serious about achieving [universal health coverage (UHC)] and truly providing health for all, then investing in a more comprehensive approach to [sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)] is nonnegotiable. We need to develop aligned and concerted advocacy at three levels. First, at the global level, we must raise our collective voices to help ensure that SRHR in UHC is on the agenda at influential meetings that guide the adoption of UHC principles and service packages … Second, in-country advocates must directly engage with governments to foster political will and commitment to SRHR in UHC. … Third, we should mobilize at the point-of-care and community level to track and spotlight how integrated UHC programming is working for accountability purposes. … At all levels, advocates and health professionals can play a powerful role to ensure that SRHR, gender equality, and human rights are not shortchanged in UHC conversations, and that strong, comprehensive UHC policy trumps political expediency. This will take vigilance, but advocates must be united and strong behind a common evidence-based position that there is no UHC without SRHR” (2/1).