Mothers at the maternity ward. New gel now available to ease reproductive health. [photo/Business daily]The new product dubbed Smugel is the first lubricating gel to be developed in Kenya and also in Africa which tackles vaginal dryness which is a major cause of reproductive health challenges among women in the country.
The Smugel can be used in hospital procedures such as vaginal and prostate examinations as well as for lubricating theatre equipment.The product’s development is part of a broader government and private sector initiative aimed at spurring local innovations to promote universal healthcare.Peter Mwethera, innovator and lead scientist behind the smugel development initiative at the Institute of Primate Research (IPR) based in Nairobi said, “With the new gel, the aim was to provide an effective and low-cost product that can be accessible to most women in our setting who suffer from vaginal dryness,”. “Most of our health products come from abroad, meaning we can’t control the prices. So the only sustainable way of dealing with this challenge and making our healthcare affordable is to begin developing our own products to address ailments affecting us.” He further said.Vaginal dryness occurs when tissues of the vagina are unhealthy or not well lubricated.The common symptoms of the disease include mild discharge, soreness, itching or burning of the vagina.The gel is primed to offer relief to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) victims who usually suffer from long-term vaginal dryness complications resulting from the procedure’s damage to their sex organ.“Affected women usually suffer in silence fearing stigmatisation. And that’s why we were keen on coming up with a low-cost gel that they can use so as to enjoy reproductive health rights just as other people.”Peter Mwethera added “We’re already working with the anti-FGM board on this. Currently, there’s a lot being done to prevent FGM which is good. But we should also address problems of women living with adverse effects of the practise.”