Family planning “is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent illness and save lives in the world’s poor countries,” according to health experts gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at a conference sponsored by the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, GlobalPost’s “Africa Emerges” blog reports.

The conference “ended with an agreement from pharmaceuticals company Merck to provide more affordable modern contraception to the developing world by reducing the cost of a contraceptive implant known as Implanon,” with the hope that this will help reduce maternal mortality, the blog writes. “The U.S. government strongly supports the work of the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, adding, “We are proud to be a part of this global partnership dedicated to making essential reproductive health products available in low- and middle-income countries” (McConnell, 6/24).