Chapter 7
Ordering Reproductive Health Kits

When should the Interagency RH Kits be ordered?

The RH Kits are intended for the early stage of an emergency as the contents of the kits are designed for a limited period of time (three months) for a particular number of people. Once basic RH services are established, the RH Coordinator should analyze the situation, assess the needs of the population and re-order disposables and other equipment as needed to ensure the sustainability of the RH program and to avoid shortage of some supplies and wasting of others that are not used in the setting. Follow-up orders for ongoing supply needs would be made through the regular supply lines in-country, procurement channels used by NGOs or through the UNFPA Procurement Services Section.[83] In other words, once the emergency phase has ended, continued ordering of the prepackaged RH Kits should be avoided.

Are there other agencies that provide pre-packed kits with RH supplies in addition to UNFPA?

Yes, the Interagency Emergency Health Kit 2006 [84] (formerly the New Emergency Health Kit (NEHK)) is the most recent version of a standardized emergency health kit that contains essential drugs, supplies and equipment for the provision of primary health care services. This Emergency Health Kit was designed by WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, Médecins Sans Frontières, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It contains a midwifery kit, emergency contraceptive pills, post-exposure prophylaxis treatment to prevent transmission of HIV after rape and supplies for the adherence to universal precautions. However, to provide the full range of priority RH services in an emergency situation, it is recommended that the Interagency RH Kits are ordered or other supply sources are identified to ensure all necessary equipment and materials are available.

What information do I need to order the Interagency RH Kits?

UNFPA needs to know where the kits will be used and which organization/individual will organize the distribution of the kits, along with the relevant contact, delivery and financing information. In addition, information about the type of setting, number of target population, time period of operation and the number of health centers and referral hospitals helps to calculate the amount of supplies needed to address the situation. It may also help to have information about personnel, including the:

	number of doctors
	number of doctors qualified for obstetrical surgery
	number of nurses
	number of nurses trained in obstetrics
	number of qualified midwives
	number of traditional birth attendants
	number of community health workers

Knowing the following basic data can help you to order the correct supplies. (Default estimates are provided in case requested data are not available.)

How much do the Interagency RH Kits cost?

The cost of the kits changes periodically. It is best to contact UNFPA directly to facilitate ordering, discuss budgeting questions and ensure that contact and delivery information is correct.

How quickly will Interagency RH Kits arrive at my site?

In crisis situations, kits should arrive at the country port of entry within two to seven days after an order is placed and the funds are transferred. Transport to field sites is dependent upon the ordering agency's local transport and storage arrangements.

How are Interagency RH Kits packaged?

To facilitate logistics in country, UNFPA has arranged that the boxes containing the kit contents:

	are marked with the number of boxes and the weight and volume of each kit
	can be handled by one or two people
	are clearly marked with the kit number, description, contact person and contents
	are branded on all sides with one color representing a particular kit

How can I find out the exact contents of each RH Kit?

Contact UNFPA to obtain a copy of the booklet Reproductive Health Kits for Crisis Situations.[85] This booklet provides a list of contents of each kit as well as guidance on the type of training health personnel should have to use the contents of the kit appropriately.

Are any reference or training materials included with my RH Kit order?

Yes, a Reference and Training Package is provided with each kit order. The following documents and manuals are included:

	Clinical Management of Rape Survivors: A guide to the development of protocols for use in refugee and internally displaced person situations.[86] WHO/UNHCR, (revised edition) 2004.
	Distance Learning Module on the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health.[87] Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, 2006.
	Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Fact Sheet.[88] Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, (revised) 2006.
	Field-Friendly Guide to Integrate Emergency Obstetric Care in Humanitarian Programs.[89] Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children/RHRC Consortium, 2005.
	Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Focusing on Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence in Emergencies.[90] Inter-agency Standing Committee Task Force on Gender and Humanitarian Assistance, 2005.
	Guidelines for HIV/AIDS interventions in emergency settings.[91] IASC, 2005.
	Guidelines for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections.[92] WHO, 2003.
	Integrated Management of Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum and Newborn Care: A guide for essential practice.[93] WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, WB, 2003.
	Reproductive Health during Conflict and Displacement: A Guide for Program Managers.[94] WHO, 2000.
	Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations: An Inter-Agency Field Manual.[95] UNHCR/UNFPA/WHO, 1999.
	RHRC Monitoring and Evaluation Tool Kit.[96] RHRC Consortium, 2004.
	The Reproductive Health Kit for Emergency Situations.[97] UNFPA/IAWG, (revised edition) 2006.

Some materials are available in various languages to be suited to the context of the crisis, but these are not automatically included and need to be requested specifically. For example, the Inter-agency Field Manual is available English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.

The RH Kits are designed for use for a 3-month period for a varying population number, depending on which block of kits is ordered.[98] The RH Kits are divided into three blocks as follows:

Block 1 contains six kits. Each sub-kit is designed for 10,000 persons for a 3-month period. The kits contain mainly disposable items. Kits 1 and 2 are subdivided into parts A and B, which can be ordered separately.

Block 2 is composed of five kits containing disposable and reusable material. In order to prevent wastage of expensive reusable equipment, these kits are designed to be used for a population of 30,000 persons over a 3-month period. However, this certainly does not exclude the kits from being ordered for a setting with fewer than 30,000 persons—in this case the supplies in the kits would last longer.

Block 3 is composed of 2 kits containing disposable and reusable material for the referral (surgical obstetrics) level. In most countries, this level normally serves a population of approximately 150,000 persons over a 3-month period. In displaced situations, patients are generally referred to the nearest hospital, which will often require support in terms of equipment and supplies to be able to provide the necessary services for this additional population.

How do I order Interagency RH Kits?

Information on the kits or assistance with ordering can be provided by UNFPA field offices, agency partners or the UNFPA Humanitarian Response Unit (HRU) in New York or Geneva:

UNFPA/HRU		tel: +1 212 297 5245
220 East 42nd Street		fax: +1 212 297 4915
New York, NY 10017		email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
USA		website: www.unfpa.org

UNFPA/HRU		tel: +41 22 917 83 14
11-13, chemin des Anémones		fax: +41 22 917 80 16
1219 Chatelaine, Geneva		email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Switzerland

Kits can also be directly ordered from:

UNFPA Procurement Services Section		tel: +45 3546 7368/7000
Midtermolen 3		fax: +45 3546 7018
2100 Copenhagen		email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Denmark		or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

How do I order the Interagency Emergency Health Kit?

A booklet describing the Interagency Emergency Health Kit and how it can be ordered is available from the International Dispensary Association (IDA) Foundation:

IDA Foundation		tel: +31 20 403 30 51
P.O. Box 37098		fax: +31 20 403 18 54
1030 AB Amsterdam		email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Netherlands

You can also contact UNICEF directly at:

Procurement Services Centre		tel: +45 35 27 32 21
UNICEF Supply Division		fax: +45 35 26 94 21
UNICEF Plads, Freeport		email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
DK-2100 Copenhagen
Denmark

Exercise

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NOTES

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