In an attempt to make birth control more accessible and affordable to women in developing countries, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Pfizer and the Children's Investment Fund announced its plan to provide a one dollar contraception shot for about 225 million women in 69 countries.
"We are proud to be part of this innovative public-private collaboration that will help more women around the world— even in remote areas— plan their lives and their futures," head of global development at the Gates Foundation, Dr. Chris Elias said.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will expand its distribution of the injectable Sayana Press, a version of Depo-Provera, targeting countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. Because women in developing countries do not have access to prenatal care, the risk of death due to a maternal cause can be as high as one in 15 in some poorer countries. Contraceptive shots are commonly used as a method of family planning to reduce these health risks.
"When women are able to plan their families, they are more likely to survive pregnancy and child birth, to have healthier newborns and children, and to invest more in their families' health and well-being," Elias says.
The single-use prefilled injection can be preformed at home, which will allow women to use contraception without having to visit a health clinic. The shot is also effective for three months, further reducing the risk of unwanted pregnancies and saving lives. Approximately 47,000 women die from unsafe abortions each year.
"Without the ability to choose when they have children and how many they have, too often women lose the opportunity to participate fully in their economies and societies," said Justine Green, the International Development Secretary.
In the Gates Foundation annual letter, Bill Gates writes that basic heath and access to contraceptives are essential. The Gates Foundation also donated more than $4 million to fund implantable contraception earlier this year.
