In 1998, Malawi hosted Africa’s first international meeting on EC, Strengthening Reproductive Health through Emergency Contraception, an event that jump-started many of the mainstreaming initiatives we see today. While some countries chose to aggressively introduce EC in the wake of the Lilongwe meeting, Malawi adopted a more gradual approach—an approach that is today beginning to bear fruit.

Spearheaded by ECafrique partner JHIPEGO Malawi at the request of the Ministry of Health’s Reproductive Health Unit (RHU), EC is now being supplied free-of-charge in 78 public sector health facilities throughout the country. Efforts to expand public sector access began in 2003, when the RHU requested JHIPEGO to undertake a pilot initiative in 47 public sector health facilities.  This program grew in 2005 with the introduction of 10,000 units of Postinor 2, a donation from their manufacturer, Gedeon Richter, facilitated by ECafrique.  Today the project works not only to deliver EC services at health facilities, but is now responding to the need for increased community awareness.  It has educated various cadres of community based-health workers, created an IEC campaign that will be launched in mid-2006, and undertaken innovative efforts to sensitize police on EC’s benefits for survivors of sexual assault.

Demand for EC is also growing in the private sector. Pharmacists in Lilongwe report “daily” requests for the “morning-after pill.” Even though no dedicated product is officially registered in the country, they offer brands such as Norlevo, 72-Hours, and Postinor 2 (imported from Zimbabwe) in addition to advising clients on the Yuzpe method. These dedicated products, however, are well beyond the reach of most Malawians, costing anywhere from USD $6.50-$8. To help broaden both private and public sector access, ECafrique is currently assisting a local pharmaceutical distributor in registering Postinor 2 with the national Pharmacy, Medicines, and Poisons Board, making it the first dedicated product legally available in Malawi.