The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Pfizer Inc. announced today a multi-year extension to a successful collaboration to broaden access to an easy-to-use and effective all-in-one injectable contraception for women and girls. Pfizer’s Sayana Press will now be available to qualified purchasers at a guaranteed price of US $0.85 per dose, a reduction from the previous price of US $1.00 per dose.

This consortium of organisations from the public and private sector first collaborated in 2014 to assess demand for Sayana Press. Initial pilots conducted in Niger, Senegal and Uganda demonstrated strong demand for the Sayana Press among younger women. It is also attracting women who have never before used contraceptives.

By working together to expand the range of contraceptive options available, more women in more countries have had access to Sayana Press every year. By the end of 2016, 6.4 million units of Sayana Press were shipped to 20 developing world countries, potentially reaching more than 1.5 million women – up from 350,000 women at the end of 2014.

“Contraceptives are highly cost-effective health investments which save lives. If every girl and woman who wanted to use contraception was able to, we could prevent 170,000 maternal deaths and around two million newborn deaths each year. The sub-cutaneous injectable contraceptive is an important innovation, which can reach new and younger users who often face high barriers to accessing comprehensive choices. Increasing access and choice of affordable contraceptives are crucial parts of this important collaboration,” said Alvaro Bermejo, Executive Director at CIFF.

More details of the agreement, the product, partners and the urgent need to increase access to voluntary family planning information, services and contraceptives can be read here.