Jamaica’s Teen Mother Crisis Gets Government Attention.

By Jonathan Mason
November 30, 2020

KINGSTON, Jamaica–November 29th,2020–HIV/AIDS Officer at the United Nations Population Fund Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Dr. Denise Chevannes, is urging interested parties to focus on adolescent pregnancy prevention, as one of the social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She noted that COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem of adolescent pregnancy and has left more girls susceptible to teenage pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/jamaicas-teen-mother-crisis-gets-government-attention/

Kenyan Reproductive Health Nurse Explains The Chilling Impact Of The Global Gag Rule & How She Defends Women’s Health

November 5, 2020

Since Ronald Reagan first implemented the Mexico City Policy in 1984, also known as the “Global Gag Rule”, every Republican President elected since then has signed this into law. The policy blocks U.S. federal funding for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide abortion counseling or referrals, advocate to decriminalize abortion, or expand abortion services.

But when Trump took office in January 2017, two days after the historic Women’s March, he not only signed the GGR (which President Obama did not), he implemented an expanded version which impacted not just family planning NGOs, but all U.S. global health assistance, increasing the amount of money affected by the policy from roughly $600 million to about $12 billion in estimated planned funding in 2018. The new iteration covered work unrelated to family planning, including projects related to HIV/AIDS, nutrition, malaria, water and sanitation, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Continued: https://www.girltalkhq.com/kenyan-reproductive-health-nurse-explains-the-chilling-impact-of-the-global-gag-rule-how-she-defends-womens-health/

Indonesia – Safe abortion crucial for women’s reproductive health

STEVIE EMILIA, THE JAKARTA POST
Jakarta / Tue, September 29, 2020

Abortion – safe or unsafe, legal or illegal – has existed throughout history. Yet, it continues to be the most sensitive and controversial issue in reproductive health.

The WHO has disclosed that an average of 73.3 million – safe and unsafe – abortions took place worldwide per year between 2015 and 2019, with the rate of abortions being higher in developing regions than in developed ones.

Continued: https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/09/29/safe-abortion-crucial-for-womens-reproductive-health.html

Marie Stopes Uganda speaks out on COVID-19, population growth

Julius Businge, The Independent
July 14, 2020

As Uganda joined the rest of the world to
commemorate the World Population Day on July 11, Marie Stopes Uganda, a health
focused international organization working in Uganda urged the government and
other actors to work towards having a healthy and productive population to
achieve social economic transformation.

This year’s day commemoration came at a time when the country and the rest of
the world governments were relaxing restrictions put in place earlier to combat
the spread of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Uganda had by press time,
recorded a total of 1,029 coronavirus cases with 0 deaths.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.ug/marie-stopes-uganda-speaks-out-on-covid-19-population-growth/

14.07.2020

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Carole Sekimpi

Covid-19 and abortion

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Peter Ddungu

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Bangladesh – Increased budget must come with policy changes, utilisation

Experts hail allocation in family planning, but wary of planning

July 06, 2020
Nilima Jahan

The budget allocation in health and family welfare has seen a steady increase in the past few years. This year, the amount increased by 13.66 percent, standing at Tk 29,247 crore.

Although the increased allocation appears to be a step in the right direction, family planning experts believe that the higher budgets are not being utilised in a planned manner.

Continued: https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/increased-budget-must-come-policy-changes-utilisation-1925709

New Zealand passes landmark law to decriminalize abortion

New Zealand passes landmark law to decriminalize abortion

By Nick Perry, The Associated Press
Wed., March 18, 2020

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Margaret Sparrow was 21 years old when she drank a concoction to induce an abortion, at a time when the procedure was both illegal and socially unacceptable in New Zealand.

Now age 84, Sparrow was delighted Wednesday when lawmakers passed a landmark bill that treats the procedure as a health issue rather than a crime.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Sparrow, a doctor who has spent her life advocating for the reproductive rights of women.

Continued: https://www.thestar.com/news/world/australia/2020/03/18/new-zealand-passes-landmark-law-to-decriminalize-abortion.html

Rwanda – Let’s stop restrictions on contraceptives for teenagers

Let’s stop restrictions on contraceptives for teenagers

By Andre Ndayambaje
Published : March 12, 2020

Mercy Mbabazi died at the age of 14 from severe infection due to unsafe abortion. Although she attempted to use emergency contraceptives to avoid that pregnancy, Mercy was not given the morning after pills because Rwandan laws say that teenagers need permission from their parents or must be accompanied by their guardians to access reproductive health services.

Mercy is just one case in an epidemic of teenage pregnancies sweeping Rwanda. Recent data shows that teenage pregnancies in the country have increased by 200 per cent in the last ten years. In the last four years, 78,000 teenage births were reported in Rwanda.

Continued: https://www.newtimes.co.rw/opinions/lets-stop-restrictions-contraceptives-teenagers

Pakistan – More investment in family planning programmes stressed

More investment in family planning programmes stressed

Myra Imran
January 31, 2020

Islamabad : Increased investment in family planning programmes could accelerate Pakistan’s progress across social, economic and environmental areas of sustainable development.

This was discussed at a meeting held with media persons on Pakistan’s population challenge, hosted by the Population Council in Islamabad with the support of United Nations Population Fund.

Continued: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/606792-more-investment-in-family-planning-programmes-stressed

Nigeria – Family planning, viable approach toward checking maternal mortality

Family planning, viable approach toward checking maternal mortality

On January 5, 2020

Amid increased advocacy for the adoption of birth control methods, many women, particularly in rural communities, still resist prescribed modern methods, thereby becoming pregnant so often and not having enough rest and intervals between their children.

The lack of rest also affects womens’ health, as their body may not get enough time and nutrients to recuperate before undergoing another cycle of pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/family-planning-viable-approach-toward-checking-maternal-mortality/

Tanzania: It is time to act: Deaths and morbidity from unsafe abortion

It is time to act: Deaths and morbidity from unsafe abortion

Kenneth Simbaya
Dec 30, 2019

Reports have it that, despite family planning being mentioned as one of the most life-saving, empowering, and poverty fighter in families and nation at large; contraceptive prevalence in the country has remained low with statistics showing that only 38 percent of married women are using the services.

According to the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2010, less than one in 10 (nine percent) of sexually active youth who want to avoid pregnancy use modern contraceptives. Worryingly, 22.8 per cent of young women between the ages of 15 and 19 are mothers.

Continued: https://www.ippmedia.com/en/features/it-time-act-deaths-and-morbidity-unsafe-abortion

30.12.2019