Azerbaijan Reproductive Health & Family Planning (RH/FP) Project funded by the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will now start social marketing among pharmacies. This action is carried out under the slogan "Choose the right time for planning pregnancy!" within the National Campaign "Nar".
The aim of the action is to inform the public that modern contraceptives are the safest and most reliable method for planning a healthy pregnancy and encourage pharmacies to offer customers qualitative contraceptive products in the broadest range.
About 100 pharmacies in Baku, Absheron, Agsu, Kurdamir, Goychay, Ismayilli, Shamakhi regions have joined the action. The action, which will take place from March to May, is implemented through cooperation of the Ministry of Health, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Public Association for support to young generation, international pharmaceutical companies "Bayer Schering Pharma" and "Gedeon Richter".
In Azerbaijan, the lack of awareness about contraceptives and inaccessibility various modern contraceptive methods results in low use of modern contraceptives in the country. Compared with neighboring Turkey (43 percent) and Russia (53 percent), in Azerbaijan, only 14 percent of married women use modern contraceptives.
Azerbaijan Reproductive Health & Family Planning (RH/FP) Project funded by the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) since 2004 cooperates with the private sector to improve the channels of supply of contraceptives and to provide employees of pharmacies with latest information on modern contraceptives. Families are recommended to use the doctor advice while choosing method which meets their needs. Two international pharmaceutical companies "Bayer Schering Pharma"; and "Gedeon Richter", as well as UNFPA supports this initiative, ensuring presence of registered contraceptive products in sale. These include different ways: combined tablets, IUDs, condoms and emergency contraception.