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Kenya has received 450,000 doses of self-injectable contraceptives aimed at boosting access to family planning and preventing unwanted pregnancies.
The self-injectable contraceptives are administered by professional and trained individuals like community health worker.
The contraceptives, procures in conjunction with the United Nations population fund and the UK government cost about Sh5.7 million and will be distributed by the ministry of health to health facilities across the country.
On receiving the supplies, the acting Director General of Health Dr. Partrick Amoth said the consignment will go on a long way to help the government in efforts to increase family planning methods.
“The integration of DMPA-SC self-injection into Kenya’s reproductive health landscape is part of broader reproductive health landscape is part of broader reproductive health self-care initiatives aimed at improving service delivery,” Dr.Patrick said.
“These will support the government’s efforts to increase access to family planning in line with global trends towards self-care interventions.”
Dr. Amoth revealed that the drug is user-friendly injectable contraceptive that one can also inject themselves without the help of a health provider.
“Kenya has made significant progress in promoting access to family planning, with the modern contraceptive prevalence rate rising to 57 percent in 2022, up from 53 percent in 2014. We are expanding access to family planning beyond traditional healthcare settings, Dr. Amoth said.
