Cotonou, September 25, 2009: USAID/Benin donated to the Beninese Association for the Advancement of the Family (ABPF) a quantity of health products sufficient to enable around 33, 000 couples to take charge of their family planning needs for a year. ABPF is a private organization that provides community-based obstetric and antenatal care service in 16 villages and family planning and reproductive health services at eight clinics in Benin.

In Benin, 30 percent of women who want to space or limit their pregnancies lack access to family planning services. According to recent United Nations estimates, the population of Benin will reach 22.5 million inhabitants by the year 2050. This rapid population growth will result in an increased and unmet need for health products and services.

USAID/Benin has worked with the Government of Benin in coordination with other donors, NGOs and private sector partners to increase access to a range of effective modern contraceptive methods. The support that USAID brings to the Government of Benin includes the provision of family planning commodities, training of health personnel in clinical management and logistics management of commodities, and social marketing of contraceptives. The impact of this approach is impressive and measurable.