How a Young Woman’s Death Led Me to Fight for Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for All

Dr. Melusi Dhlamini shares why he is an activist for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

By Dr Melusi Dhlamini
December 10, 2021

Dr. Melusi Dhlamini is a sexual and reproductive health care provider in South Africa and was named as one of the Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans in 2020.

I was born in the small rural town of Sannieshof, South Africa, in February 1988. I spent most of my early life, until the year I matriculated, between my birth town and Rustenburg.

Raised by my mother and aunt, I became a social justice activist whose values are rooted in intersectional feminism and what it aims to achieve. My activism is underpinned by a desire for gender equality and a world in which your gender and its various expressions; race; and social and economic standing do not negatively affect you. And I carry this into my work every day as a sexual and reproductive health care provider.

Continued: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/dr-melusi-dhlamini-sexual-reproductive-health-care/


Indonesia – New research shows abortions with support of non-medically trained counselors could offer safe alternative for women in legally-restrictive contexts

New research shows abortions with support of non-medically trained counselors could offer safe alternative for women in legally-restrictive contexts
July 18, 2018

A new study published by Ibis in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health shows that a safe-abortion hotline staffed by trained abortion counselors can help women who are more than 12 weeks pregnant to safely self-manage medication abortion. Results suggest that this model has the potential to be as effective as providing medication abortion in a clinic and could provide a safe option for women who need an abortion after 12 weeks in restrictive legal settings.

“Even in places where abortion is legal, structural and institutional barriers can delay women from accessing abortion care. These barriers are even greater in contexts where abortion is legally restricted,” said Caitlin Gerdts, PhD, vice president for research at Ibis and lead author of the study.

Continued: https://ibisreproductivehealth.org/news/new-research-shows-abortions-support-non-medically-trained-counselors-could-offer-safe