Organon Malaysia, a subsidiary of Organon (NYSE: OGN) and a global leader in women’s health, commemorated World Contraception Day with a global campaign advocating for informed choices about reproductive health.
Organon hosted a half day forum featuring keynotes from UNFPA Malaysia along with a panel discussion featuring subject matter experts in line with this year’s theme, “A Choice for All: Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose,” which emphasizes that every pregnancy should be planned and reaffirms a woman’s fundamental right to choose the number, timing, and spacing of her children.
The discussion addressed the urgent need for universal access to safe and modern contraceptive methods, underscoring the importance of empowering Malaysia’s women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health—crucial not only for individual well-being but also for the broader socioeconomic advancement of families and communities.
Chen Khee Kuan, External Affairs & Communications Lead at Organon Malaysia, emphasized the importance of empowering women through access to family planning and safe pregnancy spacing, particularly for high-risk mothers who face significant health challenges. “At Organon, we are committed to raising awareness and supporting women in making informed decisions about their reproductive health, enabling them to take control of their future and family. This empowerment not only improves health outcomes for mothers and babies, but also promotes greater female workforce participation, driving long-term economic growth. As we commemorate World Contraception Day, we reaffirm our commitment to partnering with key stakeholders which includes the Ministry of Health, LPPKN, UNFPA, NGOs and CSOs to ensure universal access to safe and modern effective contraception for all women in Malaysia.”
Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Country Representative Malaysia & Country Director Thailand, highlighted critical human rights perspectives and broader societal implications, stating, “World Contraception Day underscores the transformative power of contraceptives, not just on the lives and health of individuals, but on societies as a whole.” “Access to contraception is a human right. We must reject every narrative that uses it to sow fear in the face of falling fertility rates, as it is detrimental to socioeconomic development of a country, and the rights and choices of its people.”
Following the keynote speeches, a panel session moderated by Tehmina Kaoosji ensued, with representatives from The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), UNFPA Malaysia, The Red Clinic & the Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM) further expanding on the issues, challenges, misconceptions, solutions and benefits when it comes to access to contraception in Malaysia.
These included current challenges such as the need to u to bridge vital existing gaps when it comes to the wellbeing of Malaysia’s youth and in tandem reducing any barriers and misconceptions about the vital role of contraception in their lives.
The socioeconomic impact of access to contraception and its contribution towards women’s social, economic and national equity was also highlighted. By empowering women to take control of their reproductive health – Malaysia can not only balance its gender equity gap but increase the potential of its human capital and hasten it towards a high income nation status.
The path to a healthier and more equitable future for all begins with ensuring that every woman has the right to make her own choices and be in control of her reproductive health. We must not allow barriers to persist; urgent global action is needed to close the funding gap projected to reach at least $1.5 billion in low- and middle-income countries by 2030. Together, we can prioritize the health and rights of women and girls worldwide.