In March and April 2020, the swift change of gears by health systems to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted other equally essential health services across East and Southern Africa (ESA). The result is that the huge gains achieved by ESA in prevention and treatment of HIV, as well as in sexual and reproductive health (SRH), are being fast eroded by the COVID-19 response.
These ten cases studies describe a variety of strategies adopted by UNFPA and its partners in ESA to ensure service delivery in these difficult times. The lessons learned will have value beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, and even beyond HIV prevention. They can be applied to the wider SRHR agenda, especially in humanitarian settings and in any adverse environment.
