Posted by Chinenye on Tue 09th Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
DKT International Nigeria has introduced a new long-acting hormonal intrauterine device, Avibela, aimed at expanding access to modern contraception and reducing the country’s high maternal mortality burden.
(L-R: Titilayo Ajayi, Business Development Director, DKT International Nigeria; Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Health; Debu Satapathy, Country Director, DKT International Nigeria, and Professor Ayodeji Oluwole, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Lagos and Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Lagos University Teaching Hospital at the official launch of Avibela Hormonal IUD in Lagos. Photo Credit: Punch Healthwise)
DKT International Nigeria has expanded access to modern contraceptive options with the launch of Avibela, a long-acting hormonal intrauterine device designed to improve maternal health and reduce the country's high rate of maternal mortality.
Avibela is a reversible hormonal IUD that provides over 99 per cent protection against unintended pregnancy for up to eight years. It contains 52mg of levonorgestrel, a hormone that prevents pregnancy while also reducing heavy menstrual bleeding by more than 90 per cent for up to five years.
The device does not contain oestrogen, making it suitable for women unable to use combined hormonal contraceptives, and fertility returns quickly after removal by a trained healthcare provider.
Women are advised to consult their healthcare providers before use, as the device is prescription-only.
The product was unveiled in Lagos at an event attended by maternal health experts, gynaecologists, healthcare practitioners, and public health stakeholders, including the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi.
Further launch events are scheduled for Abuja and Port Harcourt as part of a broader nationwide rollout.
Speaking at the event, Country Director of DKT International Nigeria, Debu Satapathy, said the introduction of Avibela reflects the organisation's commitment to improving women's access to safe, effective, and convenient reproductive healthcare solutions. "For many women, reproductive healthcare goes beyond pregnancy prevention.
It is also about comfort, confidence, health, and the ability to make informed choices about their bodies and future," he said.
Keynote speaker and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Ayodeji Oluwole, underscored the urgency of expanding access to modern contraceptives in Nigeria.
He noted that the country records 6.8 million unwanted pregnancies annually and attributed this to poor access to contraception, supply chain challenges, fear of side effects, cultural and religious concerns, and disparities between urban and rural communities.
Oluwole warned that Nigeria accounts for over 34 per cent of global maternal deaths, with a Nigerian woman facing a 1-in-22 lifetime risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth compared to 1 in 4,900 in developed countries.
He argued that wider contraceptive uptake could reduce maternal morbidity and mortality by between 60 and 70 per cent.
Dr. Ogunyemi commended the initiative as a vital addition to Lagos State's maternal and reproductive health landscape, noting that sustained awareness campaigns have helped address myths and misconceptions around family planning.
She added that the government is exploring ways to expand family planning services to riverine and hard-to-reach communities.
Lagos State Family Planning Coordinator Latifatu Adeleye also commended DKT for its support of the state's family planning programmes, but expressed concern over the relatively low uptake of IUDs among women.
She called for increased investment in the training of healthcare workers and greater awareness creation to improve acceptance of long-acting contraceptive methods.
Avibela is expected to be made available through trained healthcare providers and partner clinics across key cities in Nigeria.