Since 2017, the Access Collaborative (AC) has been working with ministries of health and partners across public and private sectors to facilitate introduction and scale-up of the self-injectable contraceptive DMPA-SC*. DMPA-SC is part of the family planning method mix of more than 50 countries around the world, more than 30 of which offer self-injection. This product, and the option for self-injection, plays an important role in improving and diversifying contraceptive options while strengthening self-care approaches in family planning.
The AC provides dedicated technical assistance to integrate DMPA-SC alongside other methods in family planning programs—including support on monitoring and evaluation, health worker training and supervision, supply chain management, and policy advocacy. The AC also shares data and information gathered across countries with international donors to help shape the global market for DMPA-SC, with the ultimate aim of dependable supply available to meet demand. While the AC's technical support has spanned 55 countries, recent priority geographies include Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia. In parallel, through the Uganda Self-Injection Scale-Up project, the PATH team is working closely with the Uganda Ministry of Health and implementing partners to coordinate and monitor scale-up of self-injection in alignment with the national plan.
Learning and Action Networks
The AC facilitates two Learning and Action Networks (LANs)—one Anglophone and one Francophone—that include family planning program leaders and implementers from across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. These LANs allow for information exchange and learning within and among countries by sharing evidence and lessons learned, troubleshooting programmatic challenges, and accelerating the adoption of best practices for the scale-up of DMPA-SC and self-injection. The LANs host workshops, webinars, and virtual discussion groups on topics including self-injection, private sector service delivery, monitoring and evaluation, lower-cost training approaches, and more. They also share new evidence, information, and events of interest to the community.
We encourage new country partners to join our efforts. For more information, visit our DMPA-SC Resource Library, sign up for our newsletter, or email FPoptions@path.org.
“One must keep working for methods to be accessible, for systems to be strengthened, and women must at all times have access to information to help them make their choices.”— Dr. Mareme Ndiaye, Senegal Ministry of Health and Social Action
Resources
*DMPA-SC: Subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, brand name Sayana® Press. Sayana® Press is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.
