New long-term birth control method to debut in Kenya
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is taking a significant step in women's health innovation by launching a new hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) in Kenya, Nigeria, and potentially India. This long-lasting contraceptive, designed to be effective for up to eight years, is set to be the longest-lasting hormonal IUD globally.
The new IUD is a testament to the Gates Foundation's 25-year legacy in maternal and child health, as well as its $2.5 billion commitment to elevate research and development focused exclusively on women's health. This commitment is part of a larger effort to address women's health issues that are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or ignored, contributing to women spending 25 per cent more of their lives in poor health compared to men.
The hormonal IUD works by releasing progestin, a synthetic hormone that thickens cervical mucus to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. It offers a reliable, reversible, and long-term pregnancy prevention method after a one-time insertion into the uterus.
The Gates Foundation is not only introducing the new IUD but also expanding access to DMPA-SC, a self-injectable contraceptive available in over 35 countries. This move aims to provide women with discreet and convenient family planning options that support autonomy, enabling self-administration at home.
The rollout in Kenya represents a major step in global contraceptive access and innovation, aiming to empower women with effective, long-lasting, and affordable birth control choices tailored to diverse needs and contexts. This initiative is framed within the Foundation's larger goals of enhancing maternal health, expanding contraceptive choices, and improving reproductive rights globally.
The new IUD is designed with affordability and accessibility in mind, addressing lifestyle and health considerations to reduce barriers to adoption. It is among four other key innovations in women's health by the Gates Foundation, to be supported by the $2.5 billion funding.
According to Women's Health Innovations Director, Ru-fong Joanne Cheng, the $2.5 billion commitment aims to centre women's needs in a cutting-edge research agenda, particularly for those in underserved communities. This commitment is part of a larger effort to end preventable deaths of mothers and babies, eliminate deadly infectious diseases, and lift millions out of poverty by 2045.
In conclusion, the Gates Foundation's launch of the new hormonal IUD and expansion of access to DMPA-SC mark a significant stride in women's health innovation, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These initiatives aim to provide women with effective, long-lasting, and affordable birth control choices, thereby improving maternal health and reproductive rights globally.
References:
[1] Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2023). New hormonal IUD launch. Retrieved from www.gatesfoundation.org/womens-health
[2] Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2023). $2.5 billion commitment to women's health. Retrieved from www.gatesfoundation.org/womens-health-commitment
[3] Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2023). DMPA-SC expansion. Retrieved from www.gatesfoundation.org/family-planning
[4] Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2023). Global maternal health goals. Retrieved from www.gatesfoundation.org/global-goals
[5] Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2023). Women's health innovations. Retrieved from www.gatesfoundation.org/womens-health-innovations
- The Gates Foundation's $2.5 billion commitment to women's health research and development extends beyond women's health-and-wellness, as it also aims to enhance science and business collaborations for healthcare advancement.
- In light of this commitment, the expansion of DMPA-SC, a self-injectable contraceptive, to low- and middle-income countries, represents a significant step in business and healthcare alignment, aiming to make family planning more accessible and affordable.
- Meanwhile, the development of health innovations like the new hormonal IUD, which ensures long-term contraception for up to eight years, showcases the powerful intersection of science, politics, and health, dedicated to improving the quality of life, particularly for underserved communities.
