Bogotá, August 5, 2021. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) regarding access to sexual and reproductive health services and gender equality, guarantees service for family planning within a framework of rights, orientation in the choice of contraceptives and timely supply.
The coordinator of the Social Coexistence and Citizenship Group, Ana María Peñuela, explained that the Ministry of Health and Social Protection prioritizes its efforts in guaranteeing the sexual and reproductive rights of people in Colombia, with the formulation of policies, strategies, and projects. At the level of territorial entities, insurers, and Health Service Provider Institutions (IPSs), these are manifested in interventions, information and education and access to health technologies, among others.
"Consequently, governments, municipalities, EPSs and IPSs must jointly design and implement a strategy that guarantees the right to contraception with a gender and differential approach," said the official.
She added that although the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a reduction in the number of people who were cared for in family planning services, 100,835 women ranging between 15 and 19 years old received the necessary care.
Likewise, access to long-term reversible contraceptive insertion procedures continued in 2020 with 48,985 interventions. "This reflects the arrangements made by the Ministry of Health in order for territorial health entities, EPSs and IPSs to continue to guarantee access to sexual and reproductive health services," said Peñuela.
What is ensuring access to contraceptive care?
This refers to access without barriers to all contraceptive methods, financed in the health system, among which are:
- Intrauterine device (copper T)
- Hormonal Intrauterine Device
- Subdermal implants of 3, 4 and 5 years
- Oral contraceptives
- Injectable contraceptives
- Condoms
- Vasectomy and tubal occlusion
In relation to the different methods, the coordinator assured that this also implies guaranteeing the opportunity to choose the contraceptive, and according to medical indications, also promoting respect and guaranteeing human rights, including the right to life and freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, in addition to generating unique benefits for health and well-being in other aspects such as: continuing with the educational project, greater autonomy for women and the reduction of generational poverty.
Benefits of using contraceptive methods
- They reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and deaths.
- They decrease teenage pregnancies.
- They reduce unsafe abortion.
- They separate sexuality from reproduction.
- The simultaneous use of both a barrier contraception + hormonal method, IUD, or definitive contraception reduces the risks of infection by HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- They enable the autonomy and reproductive self-determination of women, to decide when and how many children they want to have.
- They allow pregnancies to be spaced and can be postponed in women who are at higher risk of dying from premature pregnancy or a high-risk medical condition.
Finally, the adviser to the minister's office said on World Family Planning Day that contraception is a right and urged all actors in the health sector to allow access to sexual and reproductive health services.
