UNFPA Raises Alarm Over Global Contraceptive Shortage
UN agency warns funding cuts and supply disruptions could reverse decades of progress in family planning and women’s health.
- UNFPA warns of a global contraceptive shortage as funding and supply chains falter.
- Ms. Diene Keita says lack of access could lead to more unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths.
- Each $1 invested in contraception yields up to $27 in economic benefits, UNFPA stresses.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has sounded an urgent warning over a growing global shortage of contraceptives, citing declining international funding and disrupted supply chains as major threats to women’s health and reproductive rights.
UNFPA Executive Director Ms. Diene Keita cautioned that dwindling support for family planning could have devastating consequences for women, adolescents, and communities—especially in developing countries where access to contraceptives often depends on international aid.
“Contraceptives save lives. For almost 50 years, global health authorities have recognised contraception as essential medicine. People want them, use them, and rely on them every day,” she said in a statement.
Ms. Keita emphasised that contraceptives are not only vital for women’s health but are also key drivers of education, gender equality, and economic growth. The current funding crisis, she warned, could reverse decades of progress in reproductive health.
Health systems, she noted, are already bracing for a potential surge in unintended pregnancies, which could lead to more maternal deaths and unsafe abortions. The wider social effects, she added, could include increased adolescent pregnancies, school dropouts, and heightened risks of gender-based violence.
Studies have shown that improving access to contraception significantly enhances women’s ability to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.
“Every $1 spent ending unmet need for contraception yields nearly $27 in economic benefits,” Ms. Keita noted, highlighting the far-reaching impact of sustained investment in family planning.
For decades, UNFPA and its partners have worked to strengthen health systems and maintain reliable supply chains to ensure that quality, affordable contraceptives reach even the most remote areas.
Ms. Keita called on governments, donors, and global partners to safeguard these gains and renew their commitment to women’s rights and reproductive health.
“We must keep our promise to women and adolescent girls—to uphold their rights, their choices, and ensure they have the contraceptives they need to plan and build a healthy, prosperous future,” she urged.
The warning comes as several low- and middle-income countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa, face severe shortages due to funding cuts and global health financing gaps.
In Ghana, reproductive health services rely partly on UNFPA support to sustain the supply of family planning commodities in public health facilities, making the global funding shortfall a pressing concern for national health systems.
