This document builds upon the previous Regional Guidance published on 17 April 2020, which provided high-level guidance to countries for continuing good quality and equitable sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (SRMNCAH) services during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides principles, strategic actions and a few examples of operational actions that countries have found useful for preparing plans to continue prioritized SRMNCAH services during the pandemic. As such, both documents should be read together.
In the present document, we have included operational actions, which are rather practical, for possible redesigning and modifications of essential services for different areas of SRMNCAH life-course continuum, within the continuity plans prepared by the countries. We understand that the countries in the Region would adapt these based on the local situation of COVID transmission, containment response and health system capacity. This document includes information from the global guidance published by WHO and UN agencies related to the COVID-19 pandemic and how to sustain essential services.