In 2019, the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 convened over 8,000 individuals in diverse sectors from 170 countries to affirm support for reproductive health and rights. Over 1,200 commitments were made by governments, organizations, and individuals alike to work towards “three zeros” – zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal deaths, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices.

As we join the world in celebrating the first anniversary of the ICPD25 summit on January 27^th, Living Goods reaffirms its commitment to work with governments and like-minded partners to realize ‘a world of rights and choices for all.’

Globally, more than 800 women die during pregnancy and childbirth every day and 232 million women wanting to prevent pregnancy are not using a modern contraceptive. At Living Goods, we firmly believe that strong community-based primary health systems are the key to achieving universal access to health services that address these issues and more. Community health is an impactful and cost-effective way of bringing health services to people where they live through promotive, protective, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative approaches.

Thankfully, community health is recognised globally, and by governments in the countries where we work, as a key driver to attaining universal health coverage and achieving the commitments in the ICDP25 agenda.

While events like the COVID-19 pandemic have threatened to reverse the gains made by disrupting sexual and reproductive health services globally, we believe that community health remains an effective way to deliver and maintain primary health services and is now more important than ever before.