The Ministry of Health, in partnership with Phillips Pharmaceuticals (Uganda) Ltd, PATH Advocacy, and PSI Uganda, officially launched the SAYANA PRESS single-unit injectable contraceptive on Wednesday, marking a significant step toward improving access to self-care and family planning services in Uganda’s private sector.
This launch supports the National Guidelines on Self-Care Interventions for Health, which highlight the importance of accessible and affordable self-care options in expanding individual choice and empowering people to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
SAYANA PRESS is a long-acting contraceptive designed for use based on shared decision-making between individuals and their healthcare providers whether doctors, nurses, or other trained professionals to determine the method that best suits each person’s needs.
The initiative reflects a strong public-private collaboration: Phillips Pharmaceuticals leads the distribution of SAYANA PRESS; PATH Advocacy supports healthcare provider training and capacity building and PSI Uganda drives market development and women’s empowerment.
“As part of our ongoing efforts, we must explore effective strategies to engage and involve husbands in supporting family planning decisions,” emphasized Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services.
“We are working to diversify family planning options, and introducing SAYANA PRESS into the private sector presents a unique opportunity to empower Ugandans to self-administer their contraceptive method,” said Dr. Richard Mugahi, Commissioner for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health. “With 45% of pregnancies being unintended, our goal is to ensure effective options like this are readily available when needed.”
