In order to ensure women’s access to contraceptive information and care after using medication abortion, Ipas Africa Alliance, Impact 4 Health, Think Place, Population Council and Nivi, are in the process of validating the pilot project, through some findings, in order to have it rolled out to the country.
“So this project seeks to develop solutions that are scalable, evidence-based and are able to improve contraceptive use rates among women who are ending their pregnancy outside the health system,” Biko said.
He explained that the difference between a health system and pharmacy is that the former has an array of cadres that can deal with many conditions, whereas pharmacy has one trained on drug composition and dispensing, so provision of quality care is not really possible within that kind of set up.
“But if you train them on the provision of Family Planning wholly, then they can be able to support those managing the pregnancy, to facilitate access to contraceptives, and prevention of unintended pregnancy leading to termination,” he said.
An estimated 49 percent, and annually around 464, 000 of induced abortion happen every year.
This represents, partly, those that are considered a backdoor avenue for abortion drugs, he said, noting that in terms of maternal mortality, deaths associated with abortion, and 13 percent of maternal mortality and injuries are directly associated with abortion.
So the project, he said, brings together partners who operate within the contraceptive space to develop strategies that they can be able to reach these women and girls, but also strengthen the role of the pharmacist to provide contraceptives.
