Empty-Handed: The Story of Many Women's Lives Around the World Print

by Mimi Melles, Program Manager, International Youth Activist Network 

Over a week ago, I visited Kampala, Uganda for a brief trip (four days to be exact) to attend the annual Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition meeting where members came together to discuss the challenges and actual solutions to increasing access to reproductive health supplies around the world.   This meeting was unique to any gathering I had attended in the past because it literally brings all stakeholders involved for a very specific discussion on reproductive health supplies.  This meeting included the private sector, governments (including our host, the government of Uganda), institutions working on systems strengthening like the Global Fund and UNFPA, and advocates like myself working to leverage political will and support for increased access. 

We discussed the many challenges that hinder both men and women's access to reproductive health supplies and services.  Stock-outs, limited contraceptive options, uncertainty in the arrival of supplies, oversupply in urban areas, undersupply in rural areas, lack of funding to provide the supplies and services… and the list goes on and on. 

There’s good news though: we have solutions!  The coalition has made a significant amount of progress to address many of these challenges.  In the past year, we have developed mechanisms to expedite procurement so that supplies are on the shelves when men and women need it; we’ve set up a database that potentially provides providers with accurate information on the status of their delivery; we’ve scaled-up advocacy efforts at all levels, from the district  level to the international level.

However, despite the technical language and overuse of acronyms in our discussions, the screening of a remarkable film (details soon!) reminded us that—at the end of the day--we’re talking about the lives of women and men and their right to plan their families, carry a safe pregnancy, and live healthy and productive lives.

 

 This film also reminded us that we can’t forget about the realities that individuals face every day because they don’t have the information and services to help them have a healthier future for themselves and their families.    The film, “Empty Handed: Responding to the Demand for Contraceptives,” an 8-minute film was funded by the coalition and launched at this meeting. "Empty Handed" gives a real perspective on the current state of access to reproductive health supplies for women in Uganda.  This powerful film concisely told the story of what many women face in Uganda when they walk away empty-handed from a clinic that should have provide a variety of reproductive health supplies that can help them choose what's best for their lives and future--but fail to do so.  This film inspired me to share the reality in Uganda with youth activists like you…so that you can also share this film with fellow youth activists, adult allies, policymakers, media and the private sector so that we can all come together to address these challenges that not only happen in Uganda—but unfortunately in so many other parts of the world.

I also work with youth activists through Advocates’ International Youth Speak Out project who are creating their own films to capture the stories of their peers and to express the urgency of addressing young people’s sexual and reproductive health.   

 

In meetings like the one I attended in Kampala--the human voice often gets lost when we talk about statistics and technicalities…but we can change that.  

Share this film with your friends and spread the word! 

Check out the film here: http://216.146.209.72/Publications/Documentaries/empty-handed.shtml