Latest US Restrictions on Aid ‘Bully’ Recipients to Accept ‘Extremist Ideology’

29/01/2026
Kerry Cullinan

Global health organisations have reacted with anger to the new US foreign aid policy, which prohibits all aid recipients, bar military, from performing or promoting abortion, “gender ideology”, or “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI).

“Catastrophic”, “bullying”, “draconian” and “ideologically driven” – are some of their reactions to the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA) policy, announced by US Vice-President JD Vance at an anti-abortion event last Friday evening.

Continued; https://healthpolicy-watch.news/latest-us-restrictions-on-aid-bully-recipients-to-accept-extremist-ideology/

The shared challenges of giving birth

The stories of patients from Nigeria, Central African Republic, and Bangladesh illustrate the shared challenges pregnant women face trying to access care.

January 22, 2026
Doctors without Borders

Every two minutes, a woman dies from complications of pregnancy or childbirth. Most of these deaths would be preventable with timely care.

Timely care, however, can be difficult to access in many of the countries where Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) works, where violence, poverty, insecurity, and other obstacles can delay care or push it out of reach when it’s needed. For a pregnant woman with complications like eclampsia or hemorrhage, this can be life-threatening.

Continued: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/shared-challenges-giving-birth

Fragile and conflict-affected settings: post-abortion care generally satisfactory, but communication needs to be improved

Quality of care is not enough without dialogue with women.

19 January 2026

The AMoCo* study continues to highlight persistent challenges related to abortion care and complications in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Conducted in two hospitals in Bangui (Central African Republic) and Jigawa State (Nigeria), it reveals that a significant proportion of patients seeking post-abortion care experienced poor communication with healthcare staff and mixed experiences in terms of respect and dignity. Women with less education and adolescents appear to be particularly vulnerable. This study, which had already revealed that severe post-abortion complications were five to seven times more likely in these two hospitals, demonstrates the importance of listening to women, giving them the opportunity to ask questions, and ensuring their privacy. These elements are essential to ensuring quality care for all women, regardless of their age or level of education.

Continued: https://www.itg.be/en/health-stories/articles/post-abortion-care-fragile-and-conflict-affected-settings

Attacks on reproductive health will have devastating consequences worldwide

MSF is committed to ensuring people have access to sexual and reproductive health services, but we cannot do it alone.

January 28, 2025

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) condemns the Trump Administration’s recent reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, more commonly known as the Global Gag Rule, as well as the US government’s support of the so-called Geneva Consensus Declaration.

The Global Gag Rule prevents organizations abroad from using their own non-US government funds to provide or advocate for safe abortion care as a condition to receive US global health assistance. This includes direct services, as well as information, counseling, and referrals, even in countries where abortion is legal. When the policy was last in place from 2017 to 2021, critical health programs were disrupted and suspended in low- and middle-income countries.

Continued: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/attacks-reproductive-health-will-have-devastating-consequences-worldwide

28.01.2025

Commentary

Avril Benoît

Doctors Without Borders

Geneva Consensus Declaration

Global Gag Rule

Global HER Act

Helms Amendment

Médecins Sans Frontières

5 reasons why abortion is healthcare

Access to safe abortion care has a real impact on people’s lives and health, from preventing unsafe abortions and complications to upholding bodily autonomy.

Nov 19, 2024
Doctors Without Borders

At Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), we consider safe abortion care a critical part of our sexual and reproductive healthcare services – one that can save lives and support the well-being of our patients.

Our teams around the world work in countries with varying laws and cultural views on abortion. Every day, MSF staff see firsthand how access to safe abortion care has a real impact on people’s lives and health. Anyone who seeks an abortion no matter their reason is deserving of high-quality and dignified care. When patients can access safe abortion care in their communities, the risk of complications related to unsafely induced abortion significantly decreases. There are instances in which abortion care is medically necessary to preserve an individual’s health and well-being, or even save their life. As health providers, MSF is committed to upholding medical ethics and person-centred care, which includes access to safe abortion.

Continued: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/5-reasons-why-abortion-is-healthcare/

19.11.2024

Commentary

abortion saves lives

bodily autonomy

criminalization of abortion

Doctors Without Borders

Médecins Sans Frontières

safe abortion care

self-managed abortion

sexual and reproductive health

Global

Health

Human Rights

5 reasons why abortion is health care

Access to safe abortion care has a real impact on people’s lives and health, from preventing unsafe abortions and complications to upholding bodily autonomy.

September 26, 2024

At Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), we consider safe abortion care a critical part of our sexual and reproductive health care services—one that can save lives and support the well-being of our patients.

Our teams around the world work in countries with varying laws and cultural views on abortion. Every day, MSF staff see firsthand how access to safe abortion care has a real impact on people’s lives and health. Anyone who seeks an abortion—no matter their reason—is deserving of high-quality and dignified care. When patients can access safe abortion care in their communities, the risk of complications related to unsafely induced abortion significantly decreases. There are instances in which safe abortion care is medically necessary to preserve an individual’s health and well-being, or even save their life. As health providers, MSF is committed to upholding medical ethics and person-centered care, which includes access to safe abortion.

Continued: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/5-reasons-why-abortion-health-care

26.09.2024

Commentary

bodily autonomy

complications of unsafe abortion

decriminalization of abortion

Doctors Without Borders

Dr. Rasha Khoury

Médecins Sans Frontières

safe abortion

self-managed abortion

World Health Organization

Everyone, everywhere should be able to access safe abortion care

Two years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, our message remains: Safe abortion is essential health care that everyone should be able to access.

June 24, 2024
Doctors without Borders

On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the landmark decision on Roe v. Wade and decades of legal precedent recognizing access to safe abortion care as a constitutional right.

…Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides safe abortion care as a critical part of our comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services. While we do not run medical operations in the US, as a frontline medical organization working in more than 70 countries worldwide, we see the devastating health consequences in places where people do not have access to safe and legal abortion.

Continued: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/everyone-everywhere-should-be-able-access-safe-abortion-care

24.06.2024

Doctors Without Borders

Dr. Rasha Khoury

Médecins Sans Frontières

Stories of safe abortion care in Mozambique

29 JAN 2024
Médecins Sans Frontières

In every country, women from all walks of life may seek out an abortion at some time of their lives due to many reasons. Where safe abortion care is too difficult to access, people with an unwanted pregnancy often have no choice but to resort to unsafe abortion, one of the leading causes of maternal mortality globally.

To reduce the high number of women dying from unsafe abortion, Mozambique in 2014 legalised abortion up to 12 weeks and beyond in cases of rape, incest, and severe foetal anomalies such as heart defects. This essential care is provided free of charge. But even though abortion is free and legal, other barriers including stigma and misinformation can still make it difficult to access safe care.

Continued: https://msf.org.au/article/stories-patients-staff/stories-safe-abortion-care-mozambique

Breaking barriers to safe abortion care in Mozambique

Médecins Sans Frontières
23 January 2024

In Beira, a city on Mozambique’s central coast, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is connecting hard-to-reach communities with safe abortion care and other sexual and reproductive health services.

Mozambique has one of Africa’s most liberal abortion laws, allowing abortion on request during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and up to 24 weeks in limited circumstances, including fetal abnormality.

Though abortion has been legal since 2014, many people still face obstacles to accessing this care, including stigma, misinformation, and corruption, such as charging for services that should be free.

Continued: https://www.msf.org/breaking-barriers-safe-abortion-care-mozambique

23.01.2024

News

abortion stigma

Médecins Sans Frontières

New study further highlights need to prioritize reproductive health care in fragile and conflict-afflicted settings

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023
Ipas

Research on abortion complications in crisis settings has been limited to date, but a multi-year study by Ipas and partners is filling that gap—with initial findings pointing to the need to prioritize programs improving postabortion, safe abortion and contraceptive care for people living in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Known as the AMoCO (abortion-related morbidity and mortality in fragile and conflict-affected settings) study, the research is being carried out by Ipas, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Guttmacher Institute and Epicentre, in partnership with the Ministries of Health in Jigawa State, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/new-study-further-highlights-need-to-prioritize-reproductive-health-care-in-fragile-and-conflict-afflicted-settings/

12.05.2023