Written by Ashley Jackson, PSI
This post originally appeared on PSI. View the original post here.
This April, Madagascar became the first country in the world to offer women the new Avibela™ levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) from Medicines360, the nonprofit global women’s health pharmaceutical company.
Like other long-acting reversible contraceptives, the LNG-IUS is one of the most effective forms of contraception. Clients report very high rates of continuation and satisfaction. Moreover, in addition to its effectiveness as a contraceptive, LNG-IUS offers other health benefits including reduced menstrual bleeding.
The LNG-IUS is not yet widely available in developing countries – largely because of the high cost of most existing products. Avibela™, the affordable product from Medicines360, could change that.
USAID is funding the pilot introduction of Avibela™ in Madagascar through the Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options (EECO) project led by WCG Cares with PSI and other partners. In Madagascar, PSI is training OB/GYN providers to offer Avibela™ alongside other methods of contraception in their private clinics. PSI-Madagascar assures the quality of service delivery and gets the word out through interpersonal communication agents, posters, brochures and other marketing materials about the new product added to the method mix.