By: Cynthia Masibo
Insupply Health, an East African health advisory firm dedicated to designing people-centered, scalable, and sustainable supply chain solutions for the health sector, in partnership with global and local stakeholders, officially concluded its Access Collaborative Project 3.0 during a vibrant closeout and award recognition ceremony held in Nairobi. The event brought together key actors in the health sector to celebrate the collective progress made in expanding access to DMPA-SC (a self-injectable contraceptive) and advancing self-care initiatives across Kenya.
The project, implemented with strong support from county governments, focused on operationalizing Kenya’s national DMPA-SC Costed Implementation Plan (2024–2030), a strategic roadmap aimed at scaling up access to self-injection as part of the country’s broader reproductive health agenda.
During the ceremony, stakeholders applauded the project’s significant achievements in five leading counties Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Nakuru, Isiolo, and Nairobi which have taken bold steps in promoting DMPA-SC uptake. These counties were recognized and awarded for their leadership and innovation in strengthening reproductive health systems through policy implementation, workforce capacity building, community sensitization, and the strategic use of data.
“Today’s closeout marks not an end, but a transition into the next phase of collaboration,” noted, Dr Estella Waiguru, Department of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health,(DRMNCAH) Ministry of Health(MoH), “These counties have shown that with county-level ownership, community engagement, and investment in training, self-care options like DMPA-SC can be brought to the forefront of reproductive health services.”
Among the notable accomplishments highlighted during the event were the training of 137 healthcare providers on Reproductive Health Supply Chain (RHSC) practices, the sensitization of 5 County Health Management Teams (CHMTs), and engagement with 56 Sub-County Health Management Teams (SCHMTs). In addition, over 500 frontline healthcare workers received facility-level training, while more than 400 Community Health Assistants (CHAs) and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) were sensitized to support the community rollout of DMPA-SC.
The Access Collaborative Project also emphasized the importance of data in decision-making. A network of 288 sentinel sites is now actively reporting on the uptake of DMPA-SC self-injection, enabling continuous monitoring, learning, and targeted support.
County health representatives lauded the project’s approach, which integrated self-care into routine services and prioritized local solutions. “We have not only improved access, but we’ve empowered women with choices and autonomy over their reproductive health,” said a health official from Nakuru County.
With the formal close of Access Collaborative 3.0, stakeholders reaffirmed their dedication to advancing Kenya’s reproductive health goals. The project leaves behind a strengthened foundation, built on collaboration, capacity, and community trust.
As Kenya pushes forward to meeting its FP 2030 commitments, future efforts focus on unlocking the full potential of retail pharmacies as primary family planning hubs, building stronger public-private linkages for supervision, and eliminating persistent barriers to self-injection.
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