The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is set to launch a new long-acting contraceptive in Africa later this year, beginning in Kenya, as part of a US$2.5 billion drive to improve women’s health across the continent.
The initiative will introduce an affordable hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) effective for up to eight years, alongside a self-administered contraceptive patch that offers six months of protection.
According to Ru-fong Joanne Cheng, Director of Women’s Health Innovations at the Gates Foundation, these tools are designed to overcome barriers such as high costs, limited access, and social stigma around family planning in underserved communities.
The head of the Foundation’s Gender Equality Division, Dr. Anita Zaidi stated that the rollout will target Kenya, Nigeria, and potentially India, with the IUD releasing progestin to prevent pregnancy.
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The patch uses microneedles to deliver the same hormone discreetly over time.
The programme builds on the Foundation’s 25-year work in maternal and child health and aims to expand contraceptive access to at least 35 countries, including Uganda, Senegal, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Other supported innovations include rapid STI testing, AI-enabled ultrasound, and vaginal health therapies.
According to Business Insider Africa, Africa remains a focal point due to its high rates of unmet family planning needs, adolescent pregnancies, and maternal mortality.
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Melinda French Gates emphasized that contraception empowers women and girls to plan their families and futures.
However, some critics argue that externally funded contraception programmes risk being perceived as population control efforts, noting that similar large-scale deployments are less common in wealthier nations.
They warn that this could undermine Africa’s demographic advantage of a growing young population.
Image Credit: Business Insider Africa
