To mark this year’s World Contraception Day, themed “A Choice for All: Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose”, WomenLift Health celebrates the leadership of women advancing access to family planning and reproductive health across Africa. We spoke with three inspiring leaders, Linda Mwale (Malawi), Rachael Goba (Zimbabwe), and Namakando Simamuna (Zambia) on their experiences, their leadership journeys, and why contraception is central to the future of public health.
World Contraception Day is about ensuring that every person has the freedom to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health. What does this day mean to you personally, and why is it important in your work?
Rachael: World Contraception Day is deeply personal to me. I survived preeclampsia during childbirth, which underscored how vital it is for women to have access to information, services, and choices. Contraception is about more than preventing pregnancy, it is about agency, dignity, and survival. It enables girls and women, especially in the Global South, to safeguard their health and pursue opportunities on their own terms. In my work, it’s a reminder to lead with both evidence and lived experience, so that every woman and young person has the freedom and power to choose.
Namakando: For me, this day highlights that autonomy is at the heart of dignity. I witnessed firsthand how teenage pregnancy can limit a girl’s potential and opportunities. Contraception is not just about access to healthcare, but about affirming that every woman and girl deserves the right and support to realize her potential. Professionally, it is a call to action, I have seen how access to contraception transforms lives, keeps girls in school, and enables women to pursue economic opportunities. This day reinforces why I advocate for policies and systems that make choice a guaranteed right for all.
Linda: For me, World Contraception Day is about autonomy and intentionality, the right for every person to shape their own life with agency. It means being able to pursue education, a career, relationships, and family planning on your own terms, without fear or coercion. It’s deeply personal because it affirms the power to say “yes” to a desired future or “not yet” to one that isn’t right. This day reinforces the “why” behind my work: advancing empowerment by ensuring informed decisions are supported with accessible, trustworthy knowledge.
As a leader in Public Health, you play a role in breaking barriers to family planning and contraceptive access. What leadership lessons or strategies have shaped your ability to drive change in this space?
Linda: My leadership is grounded in authenticity and inclusivity. I’ve learned that real progress comes when solutions are co-designed with communities, when evidence is paired with human stories to shift both policy and public will, and when we build coalitions beyond health, with economic, environmental, and educational sectors. This reframes contraception as a universal driver of progress, not just a health issue, and broadens the base of support.
Rachael: I lead with values-based, participatory approaches that center those most affected. Change happens when communities see themselves in the solutions, so I focus on creating safe spaces for dialogue across generations and genders. I’ve also learned the importance of amplifying Global South voices in global spaces. My strategy is to equip young people to hold systems accountable, influence policymakers with both evidence and lived realities, and model feminist leadership that embraces vulnerability as strength.
Namakando: Inclusive and accountable leadership has been central to breaking systemic barriers. Change requires influence at the policy level but also humility and trust-building at the community level. Success comes when young women’s voices are at the center of designing solutions.
Looking ahead, what is one bold action or commitment you believe is essential to ensure equitable access to contraception and family planning for women and girls in Africa?
Namakando: We need sustained domestic financing for reproductive health. Reliance on donor priorities makes women and girls vulnerable to stock-outs and shifting agendas. Governments must own this investment to ensure reliable access.
Rachael: Contraception must be integrated into broader agendas of education, economic empowerment, gender equality, and climate resilience. My commitment is to strengthen grassroots, women-led organizations so they have the resources and legitimacy to influence policy and ensure contraception is accessible, acceptable, and rights-affirming.
Linda: Schools must become a primary access point for contraception. Integrating youth-friendly services and sexuality education into national education systems ensures girls receive information and care where they are, helping them stay in school, plan their futures, and unlock their full potential
Featured Leaders
- Linda Mwale (Malawi) – Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Technical Advisor, Plan International Malawi | 2025 Southern Africa Leadership Journey cohort member
- Rachael Goba (Zimbabwe) – Senior Technical Advisor, Adolescent Health, CARE International | 2025 Southern Africa Leadership Journey cohort member
- Namakando Simamuna (Zambia) – Policy, Partnerships and Projects Technical Advisor, Marie Stopes Zambia | 2025 Thematic Journey: Family Planning & Contraceptive Access cohort member