Dr. Mary Short:

I am no economist but I have read the report as well. On page 19, it states that the cost of rolling out a service is only 0.6% of the overall current health spend. That appears to be very little when there are 1 million women, which is approximately one fifth of the population, in their reproductive health years. The cost is very small. Also, on a gender equality basis, we provide free condoms to men who have sex with men and they get prophylaxis medication before they have sex and afterwards, yet we are fighting over a choice of contraceptive for women that can last five to ten years. It will lead to healthier women with options on when to have their children, when to space their families and when to limit their families. It bodes well for a society that can look after its future and its couples in their reproductive years.