Abuse victims get emergency pills to prevent pregnancy

Population Services International (PSI) began distribution of emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) in Port Moresby yesterday after being out of supplies since last year.
The ECP is called Revoke and is diagnosed to female survivors of sexual assault and abuse to prevent them from getting pregnant.
Head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of PNG, Professor Glen Mola, said the pill worked by differing ovulation in 72 hours.
“This is the time that it takes sperm that have been deposited in female reproductive organs to reach the ovum,” he said. “Taking the pill within this time enables the pill to kill the sperm.”
Mola said the pill did not cause miscarriage or abortion.
Health extension officers and nurses were relieved with the distribution.
A nurse at Port Moresby General Hospital said they had been administering a combination of three to four other pills to victims of sexual assault.
“We send patients away with those pills and it is hard to follow-up to see if they have really taken them,” she said. “We have one or two cases where victims come back to us pregnant.
“Having to administer Revoke is easier because the patient will take just one dose within 72 hours.”
PSI programme director Shannon McVey said the DAK Foundation in Australia provided the funds. This allowed PSI, on behalf of the family planning technical working group and with the support of the Department of Health, to the emergency contraceptives.
PSI, in partnership with Health Department, has begun dispatch in the National Capital District.
An official said 17 provinces would receive ECP while the rest would not due to communication issues.