(KPL) A new contraceptive implant was launched yesterday in Vientiane Capital that will help Lao women prevent unintended pregnancies.

"The contraceptive implant is already available in many countries in Asia and globally. From now on, Laos will also be able to offer it as a complement to existing family planning methods and choices," said the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Inlavanh Keobounphan at a launching ceremony for the new contraceptive implant.
She said that the new contraceptive implant is a very efficient, safe and practical family planning method which suits many women in Laos. The Ministry of Health strongly believes that the implants will improve the health and lives for many women and their families.

In the Family Planning Action Plan for 2014-2015 and beyond, it is clearly stated that service delivery must be improved in terms of quality, coverage and efficient family planning services, particularly in high-burden areas. Therefore, increasing the availability of implant services in both the public and private sectors is a priority for 2014 and 2015.

She added that, except for permanent methods such as surgical sterilization, choices of family planning methods approved and registered for use in the country were restricted to only four modern methods - pills, injectables, condoms, and IUDs (the intrauterine devices). Among the long-acting and reversible contraceptives (LARCS), implants have now been registered and are available in the country.

There has been a critical need for an expanded modern family planning method mix in Lao PDR. The previous method mix with its prominence of short-acting methods puts the national family planning program in a vulnerable position. It has therefore been important to reinforce the readiness and quality of existing programs in delivering currently available modern methods while generating a stronger demand for and supply of long-acting methods that are underutilized, such as IUD’s, implants, and permanent methods.

In the near future, Laos needs to adapt and integrate international clinical guidelines on implants into the national standards and to support health care providers when providing counselling services on family planning methods to women and couples. 
The Ministry of Health is very proud to be launching the contraceptive implant to enable women to have a greater choice, depending on when and how they want to plan their pregnancies and childbearing periods in life.

The implant is suitable for many women, regardless of age and number of pregnancies. The implant does not interfere with the daily life of a woman and is easy to administer by a trained health care provider.

For Lao PDR, a comprehensive provision of family planning methods and services will further develop the country in many aspects. If women and couples have the ability to choose if and when they want to have children, the nation will be stronger with more healthy children and families. 

KPL