Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

RxGen Pharmacy Project

last updated Oct 27, 2011

Overview

Implementing organization: 
PATH
Implementation Partner(s): 
Ministry of Health, the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, Pharmacy Registration Board, and University of Nairobi School of Pharmacy
Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
All income levels

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Donor, Government
Funders: 
PATH

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
10-49
Number of Clients Served: 
PATH trained 329 pharmacists and pharmacy staff from over 200 pharmacies, in all eight provinces of Kenya
Summary: 

RxGen model works with young people to reduce their risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections by making it easier for them to get the health information and products they need. Their point of contact is the pharmacy, which is less threatening and more accessible than a health care clinic.

Program goals/rationale: 

During adolescence,young people are more likely to take risks and are less capable of predicting and dealing with the consequences than at any other time of life. Reproductive health is especially threatened and rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highest among young people aged 15 to 24 years. For young women, in particular, adolescence is a time of vulnerability when their ability to negotiate safe sexual interactions is often slight. Complications from pregnancy, childbirth, and unsafe abortions have become the major causes of death for girls aged 15 to 19.

In Kenya, pharmacies are widespread, easily accessible and often serve as the primary and only source of health services and supplies in a community. Pharmacy staff are well positioned to help clients with critical reproductive health needs like emergency contraception, STI risk assessment, and contraception. The convenience, affordability, and anonymity offered by pharmacies are particularly appealing to youth

Key program components: 

PATH’s RxGen project improves the quality of reproductive health information and products given at pharmacies. Together with project partners they advocate for the support of government and professional organizations by training pharmacists and pharmacy staff, helping them expand their technical knowledge and enhance their counseling skills. Using outreach programs they educate youth about their options and build referral networks so that pharmacists can send young people to a health care provider when diagnosis and treatment are necessary.

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