By: Modupe Adeniyi. Freelance Health Reporter.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2024. The Kenyan government has received a donation of 450,000 doses of a self-injectable contraceptive worth Sh57.6 million (£348,000) from the United Kingdom government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
This donation is expected to benefit about 400,000 women of reproductive age and help avert more than 40,000 unintended pregnancies and 122 maternal deaths. The depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) contraceptives were procured by UNFPA with funding from the UK government.
The integration of this self-injectable contraceptive into Kenya's reproductive health landscape is part of broader efforts to improve access to family planning services and increase the country's contraceptive prevalence rate to 64% by 2030. Acting Director General of Health, Patrick Amoth noted that the self-injectable contraceptive is designed to be user-friendly and can be administered by trained individuals, including community health workers and women themselves upon training.
Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha emphasized that this collaborative effort signifies a significant step in overcoming barriers to commodity security, addressing the unmet need for family planning services and enhancing health outcomes for women and families across Kenya. The donation comes at a time when the country is making significant progress in promoting access to family planning with the modern contraceptive prevalence rate increasing from 53% in 2014 to 57% in 2022.
The self-injectable contraceptive, DMPA-SC, is part of a broader initiative to promote reproductive health self-care. This initiative aims to empower women by providing them with the tools and knowledge to manage their reproductive health independently. By integrating self-care into the healthcare system, Kenya is aligning with global trends that emphasize the importance of personal health management and autonomy.
Moreover, the donation is expected to have a ripple effect on the overall health system. By reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths, the healthcare system can allocate resources more efficiently and improve the quality of care provided to other patients. This initiative not only supports the immediate needs of women but also contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the healthcare system.
Source: Nation Media Group.
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