This talk is by Jesper Sundewall, Lund University.

Countries have committed to universal health coverage (UHC) as part of Agenda 2030. Many sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services are a natural part of this aspiration. Thus, the UHC agenda provides an opportunity to advance SRHR, a critical component to reduce maternal mortality, curb gender based violence and ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In this presentation I will argue for how the UHC agenda facilitates advancement of SRHR, but also what obstacles remain for fulfilling the ambition of comprehensive SRHR access.

1. Hepburn J, Mohammed I, Ekman B and Sundewall J. Review of the inclusion of SRHR interventions in essential packages of health services in low- and lower-middle income countries. Sexual and reproductive health matters. 2021. Vol.29, No.1. https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2021.1985826
2. Kaiser A H, Ekman B, Sundewall J. 2021. The cost-effectiveness of sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. Sexual and reproductive health matters. Vol.29, No.1. https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2021.1983107

1. UNFPA. 2019. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: An essential element of universal health coverage. Background document for the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 – accelerating the promise. Link
2. Fried, S. T., Khurshid, A., Tarlton, D., Webb, D., Gloss, S., Paz, C., & Stanley, T. (2013). Universal health coverage: necessary but not sufficient. Reproductive Health Matters, 21(42), 50–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(13)42739-8

Nordic Global Health Talks is a monthly webinar series about global health research at Nordic universities, hosted by the Nordic Network on Global Health. It is free and open to everyone interested in knowing more about Nordic global health research, education and collaborative projects.

Read more and find the programme here.