Tagged: Sino-implant

  • May 7, 2018

    Reducing commodity costs when scaling up contraceptive implants … A classic chicken vs. egg dilemma

    Written by
    Markus J. Steiner, Senior Epidemiologist and Project Director, Sino-Implant (II)/Levoplant, FHI 360
    Kate H. Rademacher, Technical Advisor, Contraceptive Technology Innovation, FHI 360

    A version of this post originally appeared on Exchanges, the Contraceptive Technology Innovation Exchange blog. Reprinted with permission.

    Listen to an interview with Markus Steiner and Kate Rademacher on the reductions in the prices of implant commodities.

    Contraceptive implants have been available for over 30 years and are one of the most effective methods available. Until recently, however, international donors did not procure significant quantities, and use of the method in developing countries was very low. This access barrier was largely due to the high cost of implant commodities. The situation mirrored the classic, paradoxical question: which came first, the chicken or the egg? In this case, without lower commodity prices, procurements of implants would not increase in many international settings. But without higher volumes, manufacturers couldn’t lower their prices and still achieve a sustainable business model.

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  • July 12, 2013

    Reducing unmet need for family planning — one woman at a time

    Written by
    Trinity Zan, Senior Technical Officer, FHI 360
    Kate Rademacher, Senior Technical Officer, FHI 360

    Albertine,* a 34-year-old mother of five, was determined to get a long-acting family planning method. Because she lives in a remote part of Benin, a country of around 9 million in West Africa, she needed to travel many kilometers in the hot sun with her youngest child on her back to reach a health facility that provides contraceptives. Although she lives in an area where less than 1 percent of women use a modern family planning method, a community health worker had counseled and referred her to the health facility using a mobile phone-based tool (a service provided through the PRISE-C project, which is supported by University Research Co., LLC’s Center for Human Services and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development).

    Once she reached the health facility, Albertine insisted on getting what she called “the five-year method,” the two-rod Jadelle implant that is effective for five years of continuous use. She waited until the late afternoon — when the day’s immunization services were complete — before the midwife could see her. In a scene not uncommon in rural settings, Albertine lay across a small exam table and nursed her son on her right side while the midwife swabbed her left arm, injected the anesthesia, positioned the trocar and inserted the rods one by one. When the insertion was complete, Albertine smiled, took her implant card, and said she would be back in five years for another one!

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  • January 18, 2013

    Vote for FHI 360 for Katerva’s People’s Choice Award

    Written by
    Matt Matassa, Manager, Visual & Digital Communications, FHI 360

    We are very excited that two projects we love, Sino-implant (II) and C-Change are finalists for the 2012 Katerva Awards. This year Katerva has added a People’s Choice Award, where you can help decide the winner!

    Help us support these programs by voting for Sino-implant (II) or C-Change for Katerva’s People’s Choice Award. Voting is taking place through January 29th at www.katerva.org/vote.

    Please take a few minutes to learn more about these projects by watching the videos below. Keep an eye out for the winners to be announced on January 30th!

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