Introducing The Supply Initiative (2)
-------------------------------------
Dear Janet and fellow colleagues,
I have come across another article discussing the shortage of
contraceptives in Africa, in respect to the US "global gag rule".
The shortage of contraceptives is exactly what the Supply Initia-
tive (http://www.rhsupplies.org) is trying to help solve.
I would really appreciate any further information you may have on
the supply crisis or any stories you would like to share.
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or com-
ments.
Warm regards,
Meghan Cloud
mailto:meghan.cloud@dsw-hannover.de
--
Condom supply to Africa hit by US abortion policy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1049186,00.html
Sarah Boseley, health editor
Thursday September 25, 2003
The Guardian
The Bush administration's ban on funds to family planning clinics
which offer abortion counselling is adversely affecting the sup-
ply of condoms to countries hit by HIV/Aids, it was claimed yes-
terday.
Clinics have had to close in a number of African countries be-
cause the family planning organisations running them refuse to
sign a declaration that they will not offer abortions or even
discuss them.
Many healthcare workers consider it unethical to refuse help to a
pregnant woman who may endanger her life by seeking a backstreet
abortion if she is turned away.
Yesterday the biggest international organisations affected by the
so-called Mexico City policy, or Global Gag as the activists call
it, launched a report quantifying the disaster they say it is
visiting on the developing world.
Amy Coen, president of Population Action International, the lead
sponsor of the study said: "The policy significantly reduces ac-
cess to vital family planning and health-related services for
some of the world's poorest women and weakens vital HIV/Aids pre-
vention efforts." The rule was "another example of how the Bush
administration is allowing political ideology to trump science".
The report documented the closure of many clinics which are often
the only provider of sexual healthcare in their areas because of
a cut-off of funds from USAid, the US agency which is the world's
biggest source of development funding. About $430m (�259m) which
the administration earmarks for family planning in poor countries
can only go to organisations that have signed the anti-abortion
pledge.
The policy was introduced by Ronald Reagan, thrown out by Bill
Clinton and reinstated on George Bush's second day in office.
Family planning groups say the policy is damaging the cause that
Mr Bush has espoused in a bid to show the compassionate side of
his administration, that of HIV/Aids.
USAid is the most important single donor of condoms to the devel-
oping world, procuring and delivering more than a third of all
donated supplies, worth about $75m a year.
The report said that by 2002, the policy had ended shipments of
USAid-donated condoms to 16 developing countries whose family
planning associations are affiliated to the International Planned
Parenthood Federation and who refused to sign the pledge. They
include Swaziland, which has one of the highest HIV rates in the
world, Burundi, Chad, Gambia and Mauritius.
USAid's condom supplies to a further 13 countries have been cut
because the main, although not the only, family planning organi-
sation will not sign. They include some with the worst HIV prob-
lems in Africa: Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Guardian Unlimited �
Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003
--
Meghan Cloud
Information and Communication Networks (ComNETs)
Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW)
Goettinger Chaussee 115
30459 Hannover - Germany
Tel: +49-511-943-7338
Fax: +49-511-943-7373
mailto:meghan.cloud@dsw-hannover.de
http://www.dsw-online.de
The Supply Initiative
http://www.rhsupplies.org
--
To send a message to AFRO-NETS, write to: afro-nets@healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe afro-nets OR unsubscribe afro-nets
To contact a person, send a message to: afro-nets-help@healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.afronets.org