FG, pharma firm collaborate on family planning expansion

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has partnered with VIYA Health Nigeria and Incepta Pharmaceuticals to expand access to high-quality family planning solutions across the country.

The partnership, announced after a strategic engagement held at the Office of the Director of Family Health in Abuja on 16 April 2026, focuses on increasing the availability of affordable and innovative contraceptive products to support Nigeria’s maternal and reproductive health goals.

According to a statement, the initiative follows the World Health Organisation’s prequalification of Medogen SubQ, the first generic version of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, developed by Incepta Pharmaceuticals.

The product received WHO prequalification in October 2025 with support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Gates Foundation, confirming that it meets global standards for safety and effectiveness.

VIYA Health, a women’s health organisation providing digital care, products and services, serves as Incepta’s sole representative for the DMPA-SC product in Nigeria, Ghana and some other African markets.

Representative of the Director of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Samuel Oyeniyi, said the Federal Government aimed to achieve a 27 per cent Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate by 2030.

Oyeniyi said the increasing demand for DMPA-SC and ongoing interventions by development partners positioned the product to contribute significantly to the national target.

He said, “Given the extensive work already undertaken by partners and the growing demand for DMPA-SC, the product is expected to make a significant contribution toward meeting this national goal.”

Speaking on the partnership, Business Lead at VIYA Health, Pharm. Billy Shoaga said the collaboration reflected the organisation’s commitment to empowering women through improved healthcare access.

Shoaga said the introduction of a WHO-prequalified generic DMPA-SC would eliminate the long-standing single-source supply challenge, improve affordability and expand access to self-injectable contraceptive options for women.

He said, “The introduction of a WHO-prequalified generic DMPA-SC breaks the long-standing single-source supply bottleneck, improves affordability, and enables millions more women to access a discreet, convenient contraceptive option they can use independently.”

Shoaga added that VIYA Health developed strategies beyond product distribution to strengthen Nigeria’s family planning ecosystem, asserting that the organisation is working with federal and state ministries of health, healthcare providers and implementing partners to improve knowledge, training and integration of DMPA-SC into existing family planning programmes.

He said the effort would strengthen health systems, support self-care initiatives and close access gaps amid growing demand for family planning products in Nigeria.

Shoaga also explained that Medogen SubQ would serve the public sector, while Meuri-SubQ, VIYA Health’s private-sector brand, would target private healthcare providers and consumers, adding that  both products represented the same WHO-prequalified DMPA-SC and formed part of a dual-brand strategy aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s family planning market and improving stakeholder confidence.

He said, “This dual-brand strategy is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s family planning market, build stakeholder confidence, and support national efforts to improve maternal and reproductive health indicators.”

He reaffirmed VIYA Health’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders across the healthcare value chain, including ministries of health, primary healthcare boards, donors, healthcare providers and channel partners, to ensure nationwide availability of the products.

The partnership forms part of broader efforts to improve access to reproductive healthcare services and reduce maternal health risks in Nigeria.