Overview: towards reproductive health services programmes.

This article summarizes the lessons learned about instituting reproductive health programs from four case studies detailed elsewhere in the same publication. These lessons include 1) assuring that community clients and service providers become socially sensitized to reproductive health services; 2) delivering reproductive health services through an appropriate constellation of services at delivery points referral networks and interagency linkages; 3) developing human resources through training and retraining; 4) addressing the issue of additional workload; 5) improving quality of care; and 6) preparing managers for the diverse challenges involved in implementing reproductive health programs. The transition to reproductive health programs can be accelerated by overcoming barriers through continuing advocacy mobilizing additional resources and expanding programs within a strategic framework. The process of transition should proceed through the identification of innovations (when effectiveness is the key concern) the development of replicable demonstration programs (when efficiency becomes important) and expansion (retaining effectiveness and efficiency).