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Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is appalled by the Bush administration’s latest move to put women’s lives in danger by withholding contraceptives, a critical family planning resource, from women in six African countries.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is mandating that several African governments terminate a program that allows Marie Stopes International (MSI), one of the world's leading family planning organizations, to provide contraceptives in those countries.
 
“We know that family planning saves women's lives and protects their health,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards. “These women already face legal restrictions and harsh gender inequalities. Further limiting their access to health care puts them at risk of harm resulting from unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion and childbirth, and sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV/AIDS.”

This administration already has severely limited family planning funding to developing countries through its global gag rule, which mandates that no U.S. family planning assistance funding can be given to organizations that provide abortion services, offer counseling and referral for abortion care, or advocate legal abortion access in their own countries — even if they do so with their own funds. Domestically, the administration is moving forward with a regulation that would allow health care providers to withhold critical health information and services from women.

The new USAID mandate will seriously disrupt family planning programs in at least six African countries — Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Women in these countries will be left with few options and could end up turning to unsafe abortion services, which can result in their death or disability.

There are an estimated 137 million women in the developing world who are not using a contraceptive method. According to the World Bank, maternal mortality would drop by 25–35 percent if those women had access to adequate family planning services.

Improved access to birth control, pre- and post-natal care, and HIV prevention, testing, and counseling, among other services, can improve gender equality, maternal health, and child survival; reduce poverty; and allow women to take control of their lives.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

Source

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Contact

Diane Quest, 202-973-4851

Published

October 02, 2008

Updated

May 14, 2014

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