For women and girls in towns like Blanfla, Konéfla and Sietinfla in Côte d’Ivoire, getting reproductive health products has not always been certain. Stockouts were common and family planning supplies did not always arrive when needed. This left communities with questions about when, or if, the products they relied on would be available.
But this is beginning to change. In September 2025, a transport mission was carried out in Bouaflé, central Côte d’Ivoire, to bring contraceptives and other essential health products closer to rural health centers. The effort was the result of close collaboration between several key partners. These included the Ministry of Health’s Regional Health Directorate (DRS), the Departmental Health Directorate (DDS), the District Pharmacy and VillageReach Côte d’Ivoire, represented by Country Lead Yves Rolland Kouabenan. Together, these partners are working to ensure that peripheral health centers can better serve their communities.
Delivering what matters
During the mission, priority reproductive products were delivered, including Depo-Provera, Sayana Press, Implanon, Mycrogynon, Misoprostol and mother-child health booklets. Quantities were tailored to the needs of each rural health center, ensuring continuity of care and reliable follow-up for patients.
The mobilization of DRS, DDS, and the District Pharmacy played a critical role in making the distribution efficient and uninterrupted. Their coordinated efforts helped reduce stockouts, improve access to modern contraceptive methods for women and girls and strengthen community trust in the public health system.
Teamwork in action: overcoming muddy roads to deliver family planning products to Bouaflé, Côte d’Ivoire. Photo credit: Aida Bamba
Progress and remaining challenges
The Ministry of Health’s distribution system for family planning products in Bouaflé and surrounding areas is already showing results. Stockouts are less frequent and thousands of women and families now have more consistent access to care.
Yet challenges remain.
Health centers in rural and hard-to-reach areas still need more regular and sufficient stock levels. Delivery delays occasionally interrupt continuity of care. Coordination and delivery tracking must also improve so that stockouts can be anticipated and prevented, especially when demand fluctuates with the seasons.
We do not, however, view these challenges as setbacks, but rather as opportunities to build a stronger and more resilient supply chain. By addressing them, health authorities and technical partners can ensure lasting progress.
Looking ahead
To build on the momentum of this mission, several priorities have become clear:
- Sustain monthly deliveries and adapt them to real needs and seasonal variations.
- Strengthen logistics monitoring and data collection to anticipate shortages and manage inventory effectively.
- Improve coordination with district and health center teams through regular dialogue and joint planning.
- Assess community satisfaction and measure impact to refine strategies and build lasting trust.
Strengthening trust while reducing inequalities
For women and girls in Bouaflé and beyond, reliable access to contraceptives and reproductive health products is more than just improving logistics. It represents choice, dignity and trust in the health system.
By bringing products closer to remote communities, VillageReach and its partners are helping reduce health inequalities and strengthen the resilience of Côte d’Ivoire’s health system. We invite donors and partners to join us in extending these gains, so that more communities across Côte d’Ivoire can benefit from regular, reliable access to reproductive health services.
Learn more about how we are increasing access to family planning products in Côte d’Ivoire here.