Pop-Up Reproductive Health-Care Clinic Arrives at Jackson Medical Mall Saturday – Mississippi Free Press

Report on Converge’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals in Healthcare

Introduction: Advancing SDG 3 and SDG 5 in Mississippi

The nonprofit organization Converge, established in 2018 by co-founders Jamie Bardwell and Danielle Lampton, is actively working to improve the reproductive and sexual healthcare landscape in Mississippi and Tennessee. This mission directly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). By addressing systemic deficiencies in healthcare access, Converge contributes to achieving Target 3.7, which calls for universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, and Target 5.6, which aims to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

The organization’s formation was a direct response to identified gaps in quality care, a problem described by Bardwell as a “systems-level problem that required a lot of different types of solutions.”

Operational Framework and Funding: A Model for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

Converge’s operational capacity has been significantly enhanced through strategic funding and expansion, directly addressing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by targeting underserved populations.

• 2018: The organization began with fiscal sponsorship from The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi.
• 2019: Converge obtained official nonprofit designation from the Internal Revenue Service.
• 2022: The organization was awarded the Title X Family Planning Grant from the federal government.
• 2023: Following the withdrawal of the Title X grant from the Tennessee Health Department, Converge successfully applied to receive the grant to expand its services into Tennessee, filling a critical healthcare void.

With an annual grant of $7 million, Converge funds a network of affiliated nonprofit clinics, provides telehealth services to overcome geographical barriers, and deploys community health partners to ensure information about available services reaches the public, thereby reducing inequalities in healthcare access.

Strategic Initiatives: The ReproHealth Tour and Community Outreach

In a direct effort to bring healthcare to communities, Converge has launched the ReproHealth Tour, a series of pop-up clinics. This initiative, beginning at the Jackson Medical Mall, is a collaboration with the Mississippi Reproductive Health Justice Coalition, exemplifying SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Services Provided to Advance Health Equity

The pop-up clinics offer a range of free and low-cost services essential for achieving the targets within SDG 3 and SDG 5. These services include:

1. Physical examinations and vital sign checks.
2. Testing and counseling for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
3. Contraceptive counseling, prescriptions, and a free three-month supply of the first over-the-counter birth control pill (O-pill).
4. Pregnancy testing and preconception counseling.
5. Distribution of educational resources on reproductive and sexual health.

These services empower individuals, particularly women, with the knowledge and means to manage their health, a cornerstone of gender equality.

Addressing Systemic Gaps and Building Sustainable Infrastructure

The selection of the Jackson Medical Mall for the initial pop-up clinic and a future permanent clinic is a strategic response to a growing healthcare desert. The recent departure of major providers, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center, created a significant service gap. Converge’s decision to establish a presence directly counters this trend.

Bardwell stated, “When everyone else seems to be fleeing care, we feel like it’s our responsibility to lean towards that.” This commitment will materialize with the opening of Converge’s first brick-and-mortar clinic in September, establishing sustainable health infrastructure in line with the objectives of SDG 3.

Future Expansion

The ReproHealth Tour is scheduled to continue, with future pop-up clinics planned for several other Mississippi cities, ensuring broader regional impact.

• Hattiesburg
• Greenville
• Natchez
• Gulfport

This expansion demonstrates a scalable model for improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities across the state, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The entire article is centered on improving access to healthcare. The organization Converge was founded specifically to “improve Mississippi’s reproductive and sexual health-care landscape.” Their work involves providing direct health services, which is the core of SDG 3.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The focus on “reproductive and sexual health-care,” including contraceptive counseling and family planning, is intrinsically linked to gender equality. Ensuring women have access to these services is a key component of empowering women and giving them control over their own health and life choices, which is a central theme of SDG 5.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article highlights a “lack of access to quality reproductive and sexual health care in Mississippi.” Converge specifically targets this inequality by bringing services to areas where they are disappearing, such as the Jackson Medical Mall, after other providers left. Their mission to “make sure people have access to quality care no matter where they are” directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities in access to essential services.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article explicitly details the collaborative efforts required for Converge’s work. It mentions being fiscally sponsored by “The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi,” receiving the “Title X Family Planning Grant award from the federal government,” and hosting events with the “Mississippi Reproductive Health Justice Coalition.” This demonstrates the multi-stakeholder partnerships necessary to achieve development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.
   • Converge’s mission and actions directly align with this target. The article states they provide “contraceptive counseling and beginning prescriptions, pregnancy testing and preconception counseling,” and a “free three-month supply of the first over-the-counter birth control pill.” These are all core components of family planning and sexual/reproductive healthcare services.
2. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services.
   • The pop-up clinics offer “free and low-cost services,” including “physical exams, vital sign checks, sexually transmitted disease testing and counseling.” By establishing clinics in areas where services have been vacated, like the Jackson Medical Mall, Converge is working to ensure coverage and access to essential healthcare for the local population.
3. Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
   • The services provided by Converge, particularly “contraceptive counseling,” “educational resources,” and access to birth control, empower individuals (primarily women) to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. This directly supports the goal of ensuring universal access to reproductive health as a fundamental right.
4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The article provides clear examples of such partnerships. Converge, a civil society organization, partners with another foundation (“The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi”), a public entity (“the federal government” via the Title X grant), and another coalition (“Mississippi Reproductive Health Justice Coalition”) to deliver its services.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 3.7 (Universal access to sexual/reproductive healthcare):
   • Indicator (Implied): Number of people receiving family planning services. The article mentions providing “contraceptive counseling,” “prescriptions,” and a “free three-month supply of the… O-pill.” Tracking the number of individuals who receive these specific services would measure progress.
   • Indicator (Implied): Number of people receiving sexual health testing and counseling. The article lists “sexually transmitted disease testing and counseling” as a provided service. The number of tests and counseling sessions conducted is a direct indicator.
2. For Target 3.8 (Universal health coverage):
   • Indicator (Implied): Coverage of essential health services. The number of “physical exams” and “vital sign checks” performed at the clinics can be counted to measure the expansion of essential service coverage.
   • Indicator (Implied): Number of healthcare facilities established in underserved areas. The article mentions Converge is opening its “first brick-and-mortar clinic” in the Jackson Medical Mall specifically because other providers left. The establishment of this clinic is a measurable outcome.
3. For Target 17.17 (Partnerships):
   • Indicator (Mentioned): Amount of financial resources mobilized for partnerships. The article explicitly states Converge “uses its $7 million in grant money each year” from the federal Title X grant. This is a direct financial indicator of a public-civil society partnership.
   • Indicator (Implied): Number of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article names at least three distinct partners: The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi, the federal government, and the Mississippi Reproductive Health Justice Coalition.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mississippifreepress.org