New York Times Whitewashes Dangerous Contraceptive for Poor Women

By Lisa Correnti | November 14, 2014

Big pharma, a rich philanthropist, government aid and a children’s non-profit announced yesterday that they would make a controversial injectable contraceptive more widely available to poor women in developing countries.

The New York Times trumpeted the announcement that Pfizer Inc., the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) will provide financing to assure the new self-inject version of Depo Provera – called Sayana Press would reach millions of women in rural areas.

Sayana Press like its predecessor Depo Provera, is a dangerous progesterone contraceptive. Some 11 scientific studies revealed an increased risk of contracting and transmitting HIV/AIDS among women using Depo Provera. Women using these progesterone contraceptives double the risk of breast cancer, have prolonged bleeding, delayed return of fertility, and are at greater risk to develop severe cases of osteoporosis. For this reason the FDA issued a black-box warning that it shouldn’t be used beyond 2 years.

Yet, in sub-Sahara Africa women have been using Depo Provera for years and know nothing of the longterm consequences.

PATH developed the self-inject delivery system through funding by USAID and others. Reproductive health expert Kwame Fosu says the new delivery system will circumvent mandatory informed consent required by the FDA for drugs with black box warnings.

Fosu has been sounding the alarm on the serious side effects to US lawmakers in Washington and to African delegates at the United Nations.

Depo Provera stakeholders — the Gates Foundation, USAID, and reproductive rights groups that claim to have a woman’s best interest, remain quiet on the side effects. And now, a major media outlet.

The NY Times article has no mention of the controversy around progesterone contraceptives. What is reproductive choice or voluntary family planning without informed consent?

The $14 billion for “population assistance” directed to intermediaries like UNFPA, IPPF, Marie Stopes, FHI360, and PATH have a secure funding stream implementing family planning programs that prioritize long-acting contraceptives like injectables and implants. Some $8 billion is targeted to sub-Sahara Africa.

Partners on this new effort to distribute Sayana Press to women and girls of reproductive age include the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and PATH.depo_breast cancer

“In the place of our real needs they offer us a product that we have neither wanted nor demanded,” said Obianuju Ekeocha, founder of Culture of Life Africa. “It is heart-breaking to see how these wealthy proponents of contraception have chosen to unleash their extensive projects on Africa with programs overlooking the real needs of African women, which include access to good education, good healthcare, food and water,” continued Ekeocha.

Depo Provera and the progesterone implant Jadelle (Norplant 2) are targeted to poor women only. Women in Europe and the US do not use it. Norplant 1 was withdrawn from the US market after thousands of lawsuits filed by women harmed by the side effects. It since has been licensed to be manufactured off-shore.

These aggressive programs will be successful in lowering fertility in these regions but will do nothing to provide economic gain and lift women from poverty. With harmful pharmaceuticals like these, poor women will have less children – but they will remain poor, and now, will have health issues that won’t be addressed by sub-standard healthcare systems.

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