Boost for reproductive health as Kenya receives 450,000 contraceptives

Kenya's teen pregnancy was the third-highest in the world in 2019. [iStockphoto]

Kenya has received 450,000 doses of contraceptives aimed at boosting access to family planning and preventing unintended pregnancies.

The contraceptives are self-injectable and can be administered by trained individuals, including community health workers and women, easing affordability and access to modern family planning.

The contraceptives, procured in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UK Government cost about Sh5.7 million, and will be distributed by the Ministry of Health to health facilities across the country.

While receiving the supplies at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) warehouse in Nairobi, Acting Director General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said the consignment will go 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 self-care initiatives aimed at improving service delivery. These will support the Government's efforts to increase access to family planning in line with global trends toward self-care interventions."

Reiterating Amoth's sentiments, British High Commission Deputy Development Director Eduarda Mendonca-Gray remarked that access to family planning methods has been proven to reduce poverty levels and provide women with dignity.

"Since 2010 we have been supporting family planning efforts in Kenya and we remain committed to working collaboratively. We will continue working with the Health Ministry to empower women to plan for their lives and future, and to decide when to have children by choice not by chance."

Data shows that as of 2022, the uptake of contraceptives among Kenyan women stood at 57 per cent, up from 53 per cent in 2014.