What is Sayana Press?
Sayana Press, also known as DMPA-SC, is an easy-to-use injectable contraceptive for women. Sayana Press works by preventing ovulation, and provides contraceptive cover for at least 13 weeks. It is highly effective (99% with correct use), can be self-administered, is transported without a cold chain and is cheap: only $0.85 per dose.
Because the contents of Sayana Press are premixed and the injection can be self-administered at home, this contraceptive opens up a whole range of new possibilities for women. If they prefer, women can receive multiple doses to take home, so they don’t have to travel long distances to clinics. This reduces barriers for women, enhances women’s autonomy, and increases contraceptive continuation rates. Women can self-inject below the skin in their abdomen or upper leg. The World Health Organization strongly recommends self-injection in its guidance on self-care interventions for health. Sayana Press has relatively few side effects and is discrete in its use. Women can use it in the privacy of their own home, and only have to think about a new dose every three months.
Lafiya trains nurses and midwives in the rural northern parts of Nigeria on how to administer and distribute Sayana Press. In this way, they can provide the product to women in their local communities and increase access to family planning for women who have never been able to use contraceptives before. Importantly, 34% of women that Lafiya reaches have never used contraception before. This means we open up possibilities for a whole new demographic, especially those women who have traditionally been marginalized.
Lafiya increases access to family planning by recruiting Lafiya Sisters: trained nurses and midwives who were chosen by their communities to receive a 2-year healthcare education. We upskill them in Family Planning counselling and administration, and provide them with Sayana-Press contraceptives, which they distribute to rural women while working in health clinics and informal community settings.
Lafiya purchases and distributes the Sayana Press to women for free, and so far has distributed 24 000 doses to 13 000 women in Northern Nigeria. You can support Lafiya’s work by donating to our cause. Every donation can help us to reduce the unmet need and save the lives of more women. Together we can increase access to safe contraceptives for women in Nigeria.
