What Gives A Woman Power
Knowledge. Access to Care. Encouragement. Trust. Advocacy. Autonomy.
November 4, 2024
In today’s world, empowering women is more important than ever.
Access to healthcare, education, and essential resources is crucial for women to take control of their lives. Initiatives like Organon’s “Her Plan is Her Power,” through which Organon launched the U.S. Grant Programs and Listening Tour in February 2024, are paving the way for women to take control of their reproductive health and futures, helping to make significant strides in breaking down barriers that can often lead to unplanned pregnancies and limit women’s opportunities.
In the spring of 2024, Organon’s CEO Kevin Ali and Head of Medical Affairs and Outcomes Research, Dr. Charlotte Owens embarked on a listening tour, visiting clinics in contraceptive deserts awarded grant funding through Organon’s partnership with Direct Relief.
In the U.S., approximately 19 million women of reproductive age live in “contraceptive deserts*,” areas with limited access to health centers offering a full range of contraceptive methods. This lack of access disproportionately affects communities of color, contributing to higher rates of unplanned pregnancies.
The listening tour spanned communities across Mississippi, Texas and Ohio. Despite making up different demographics of the country, common themes emerged. Gaps in health education and barriers to accessing essential resources, like transportation, healthy food, childcare and medical care all contribute to how a women can care for herself and her family. 80 to 90% of what makes up health are social determinants** , including community infrastructure, difficult-to-access quality education, medical care and contraception, lack of economic stability and constant exposure to systemic biases. Kevin and Charlotte saw firsthand during their time spent in these communities how a person’s health is impacted by their zip code and how the solution is potentially found within the same community.
Innovative solutions at these clinics included:
- A community health worker to conduct in-home visits with moms during the postpartum period to provide information on contraceptive options and improve interpregnancy intervals.
- A mobile health clinic to provide sexual and reproductive health services in rural Georgia.
- Training of family practice providers on long-acting reversible contraception.
Listening is foundational to Organon’s strategy as a company focused on the health of women. Working directly with communities, in partnership with organizations like Direct Relief, we can provide the necessary resources, including funding and product donations, in areas of high unmet need enabling local clinics to take charge of the health of the women in their community. With trusted community members at the helm of this work, these resources can go further into building a stronger infrastructure that will benefit the community for years to come.
As part of the 2024 listening tour, Organon asked community members and clinic partners for their thoughts on “what gives a woman power.” Watch the video to learn more.
* Power to Decide. 2024. Contraceptive Deserts. Contraceptive Deserts 2024 | Power to Decide.
** Magnan, S. (2017, Oct 9). Social Determinants of Health 101 for Health Care: Five Plus Five. National Academy of Medicine. Social Determinants of Health 101 for Health Care: Five Plus Five – National Academy of Medicine (nam.edu)