This year, World Contraception Day (WCD 2024) held in Narok County at the Ole Ntimama stadium, focused on raising awareness about modern contraceptive options and ensuring that more people across Kenya can access and use them.
The theme, “Contraception Choices: The Power is in My Hands,” emphasized empowering individuals and families to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
At both national and county level, the main message was clear: we must advocate for increased domestic financing and find innovative ways to provide inclusive family planning services.
The event saw PS Kenya reiterate its commitment to advancing reproductive health rights, in line with the goals set during the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
Over the last three years, PS Kenya has made significant strides in the provision of contraceptive services across the country. Through visible efforts, PS Kenya has provided a total of 1,975,645 contraceptive services, ensuring that more individuals have access to safe and reliable family planning options. Among these, 599,168 women were new users of contraceptive services, highlighting a solid commitment to reaching women, particularly those who previously had limited access, and empowering them to make informed reproductive health decisions.
Dr. Charlotte Pahe, PS Kenya’s Reproductive Health Director, highlighted PS Kenya’s unwavering dedication to making family planning methods accessible to all.
“World Contraception Day reminds us that everyone, especially young women and marginalized communities, has the right to safe and reliable contraceptive choices. At PS Kenya, we remain committed to empowering individuals to make informed reproductive health decisions and will continue working with our partners to ensure family planning services reach even the most underserved areas,” said Dr. Pahe.
Dr. Serem, Head of the Division of Reproductive and Maternal Health, Ministry of Health, highlighted the availability of various contraceptive methods at health facilities and through community outreach. He also addressed the high unmet need for family planning, particularly among young women aged 15-19.
PS Kenya has been on the forefront in supporting the Ministry of Health to achieve its family planning goals. Through reproductive health programs like DESIP, Accelerate Project and Binti Shupavu, PS Kenya has employed cutting edge health interventions that continue to address the unmet reproductive health needs and disparities across the country giving women and families the power to decide when they want to have children, how many and spacing of their children.
