In a remote village in Ethiopia, Amina, a young mother of four, struggled to attend regular health clinic appointments to receive her injectable contraceptive. Her situation changed when Selam, a dedicated health worker, introduced her to a long-acting reversible implant. This implant promised Amina the freedom from frequent visits, a relief for her busy life.
Selam observed a growing trend among women choosing long-acting implants for their convenience. However, her clinic faced a looming shortage of these vital contraceptives, mirroring a nationwide issue. Across Ethiopia, health centers are battling supply problems, threatening the progress made in family planning.
Despite a significant increase in family-planning services—with Ethiopia's contraceptive prevalence rate soaring from 8 percent in 2000 to 41 percent in 2019—the demand for contraceptives has outpaced supply. The government has invested in expanding access by employing 42,000 health workers across 18,000 posts, fostering remarkable advancements in women's health.
Yet, the Ministry of Health grapples with a substantial financing gap, unable to keep up with the growing need for family-planning products. Ethiopia is not alone; last year, low- and middle-income countries faced a funding shortfall exceeding $100 million for contraceptives. This gap threatens to leave hundreds of millions of women and girls without essential family-planning methods, leading to more unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths.
Closing this financing gap is a formidable challenge. Governments worldwide must balance numerous needs with limited budgets, often sidelining women's health and family planning despite the severe consequences of inadequate contraceptive access.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
