Guided by the WHO global reproductive health strategy adopted by the 57th World Health Assembly in May 2004, the regional reproductive health and research programme aims to accelerate progress towards achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health.

The programme has five core elements:

improving antenatal, delivery, postpartum and newborn care

providing high quality services for family planning, including infertility services

eliminating unsafe abortion

combating sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, reproductive tract infections, cervical cancer and other gynaecological morbidities

promoting sexual health. 

The following key action areas have been identified by the programme in achieving its goals:

strengthening health systems capacity

improving information for priority setting

mobilizing political will

creating supportive legislative and regulatory frameworks

strengthening monitoring, evaluation and accountability.

WHO global reproductive health strategy