The Crisis of Contraceptive Stockpiles in Africa
More than 1.4 million women and girls across Africa face a dire situation as a stockpile of US-owned contraceptives, valued at $10 million (€8.5 million), is at risk of being destroyed in accordance with US government plans. These contraceptives are currently stored in a warehouse in Belgium and could be incinerated in France if the plan moves forward. This potential destruction has sparked widespread concern among civil society organizations and politicians who are urging the preservation of these life-saving supplies.
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has attempted to purchase the stock from the US government but was met with rejection. Originally intended for distribution to lower-income countries by the now-dismantled United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the contraceptives were meant for use in several African nations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mali, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Approximately 77% of the stock, many with expiration dates between 2027 and 2029, was destined for these countries. In Tanzania, the stockpile was set to provide over a million injectable contraceptives and 365,000 implants, accounting for more than 40% of the total shipment. These supplies represent over half of USAID’s annual support to Tanzania’s health system and 28% of the country’s total annual need.
Dr. Bakari, Project Coordinator at UMATI, IPPF’s Member Association in Tanzania, highlighted the challenges posed by USAID funding cuts. He stated that the impact has already significantly affected the provision of sexual and reproductive health services in Tanzania, leading to a shortage of contraceptive commodities, especially implants.
In Kenya, the effects of US funding disruptions are also evident. Nelly Munyasia, executive director for the Reproductive Health Network in Kenya and a member of IPPF, noted that the funding freeze has caused stock-outs of contraceptives, leaving facilities with less than five months' supply instead of the required 15 months. She added that the withdrawal of USAID has created a 46% funding gap in Kenya’s national family planning programme.
Global Implications of the Funding Gap
The US has long been the largest bilateral donor to family planning, contributing $600 million annually, which accounted for 40% of global donor funding. The cancellation of pending procurement contracts has widened an existing global funding gap from $167 million to $210 million across 32 countries, according to the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition (RHSC).
The coalition warned of broader effects of burning this stash. When a woman’s first choice of contraceptive is missing, she may opt for a less-preferred product, which could lead to a stock-out of that product if demand rises unexpectedly. “When family planning stocks are compromised, the entire supply chain is at risk, requiring new funding, time, and coordination that cannot materialise at short notice,” they stated.
The RHSC estimated that failure to deliver this stockpile to its intended recipients could result in 362,000 unintended pregnancies, 161,000 unplanned births, and 110,000 unsafe abortions.
Political Opposition in Europe
During a briefing in late July, US State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott said officials were “still in the process here in terms of determining the way forward” with regard to the Belgian stock. As the supplies are reportedly set to be transferred to France for destruction, French Green Party politicians have appealed to President Emmanuel Macron to intervene.
MEP Mélissa Camara (France/The Greens), one of the signatories of the letter, told Euronews, “We cannot allow Donald Trump's anti-choice agenda to unfold on our territory. And so today, France must mediate with the Commission.” However, the French health ministry stated that there is no legal basis for intervention by a European health authority, let alone the French national drug safety authority, to recover these medical products.
“Since contraceptives are not drugs of major therapeutic interest, and in this case, we are not facing a supply shortage, we have no means to requisition the stocks,” it added. The ministry also mentioned it had no information on where the contraceptives would be destroyed.