Family planning a powerful tool for reducing maternal death

Over the last 8 years, the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Directorate (NPHD), along with international and national organizations increased family planning (FP) use from 6% to 17.7%. These efforts must be strengthened to continue reductions in maternal death and reach the Millennium Development Goals. FP is a powerful tool to achieve this objective. In Angola in 2010, 879 maternal deaths were averted due to contraceptive use, representing 15.5% of maternal deaths.In 2010, the NPHD piloted introduction of the Jadelle implant in 2 hospitals over a 9 month period. During this time, 709 implants were inserted. Since 2012, SASH, financed by USAID/ Angola, has supported the introduction of Jadelle to health centers in Luanda and Huambo. The introduction includes 4 elements: personalized counseling, hands-on practice during training with anatomic models and later with patients, focused technical assistance to establish the new service in the facility and radio messaging. From April 2012, 23 new services were established in the two provinces of Huambo and Luanda and as a result 6,424 implants were inserted. This demonstrates the need of Angolan women to use an effective FP method, and that changes in the model of care are required in order to make services more client-friendly.