By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, February 27, Mana: Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) Alex Mdooko has said collaboration between private health facilities and the local government through Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA-SC) guidelines will reduce the prevalence of unintended teenage pregnancies, improve comprehensive productive health coverage and that individuals will learn self-care through injectable contraceptives.

Mdooko made the remarks on Monday at Lighthouse in Blantyre during the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and introduction of DMPA-SC guidelines which aimed at addressing universal health coverage, especially on family planning and increased contraceptive uptake among women.

The DC said the private health sector plays a great role in supporting communities with health care services, adding this was why Ministry of Health, through the Reproductive Health Directorate, engages private pharmacies, clinics, and medicine stores to contribute towards family planning by having easy access contraceptives to improve quality life in families.

“More than 40% of services are provided by the private sector in the areas of maternal, neonatal and child health, family planning, malaria and nutrition. Increase of family planning methods through private facilities leads to improvement in health of mothers, children and the status of women,” added Mdooko.

He disclosed that Malawi National DMPA-SC guidelines for private facilities will contribute to a bundle of knowledge and key direction on various contraceptive methods, as individuals will be able to self-administer themselves.

Speaking during the ceremony, representative of Pharma plus Pharmacy, Blessings Gondwe, said promotion of self-care can improve people's informed decisions about health services, adding that self-care has the potential to address unmet needs of family planning, contraceptive use, HIV testing, and other health needs.

“Through this collaboration, we will make sure that our entities apply the guidelines and abide by the direction provided by the Ministry of Health and we will work together with much effort to improve reproductive health coverage,” said Gondwe.

In his remarks, Deputy Director of Reproductive Health Dr. Owen Chikhwaza said through DMPA-SC guidelines, women will be able to inject themselves with Sayana Press in their homes, as the directorate intensify supervision of all private facilities to ensure that the products are available in all health corners.

“Women will be trained on how to administer themselves through HAS. We are committed to ensure that communities attain the highest possible level of health and quality of life and we don’t want cost to be the barrier to access these services,” said Chikhwaza.

DMPA-SC is an effective form of hormonal contraception administered via intramuscular injection.