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Loading...No More Crossed Fingers – Stand Strong for Women
What if your only option for contraception was simply crossing your fingers? Fingers crossed you don’t get pregnant. Fingers crossed you don’t get an STD. For more than 200 million women around the world, it is. But it doesn’t have to be. And women know that. For ages, women the world over have sought ways to prevent or space pregnancies. To give them the means not only for sexual freedom—but in many developing countries—the means to avoid early marriage and childbirth, stay in school, and advance in life.
Of the millions of women who want, but cannot access contraceptives, some will go to whatever means necessary to obtain them. Recently a Pathfinder International field worker in Uganda shared a story about two women who so urgently desired contraception that despite being turned away from a clinic which had been too busy to see them, they spent the night in the health center—their babies strapped to their backs. The Pathfinder field worker said, “The next day, they again waited patiently, but the surgeon [who they were waiting on to receive a long-term hormonal contraceptive] had to depart for another facility. In tears, the two women flagged me down and begged me to drive them there. One declared, ‘I am not leaving until they work on me.’ I managed to find a way to get them to the other clinic. When we arrived, the staff was extremely sympathetic and helped both women immediately. The two women returned home rejoicing, excited by their new opportunities in life.” Luckily the Pathfinder field worker was there to help.
It’s incredible to imagine how that scenario would play out in the United States today. What would American women do if they showed up at a clinic and were turned away? Or if suddenly they no longer had access to birth control or contraceptives? I imagine there would be million women marches on Washington, sit-ins at drug stores, perhaps even rioting in the streets. And it wouldn’t just be women concerned about the lack of access. Men too would have an interest—lack of access to contraceptives changes their lives as well (but of course, in different ways—it’s not the men who get pregnant).
So why haven’t there been million person marches on the UN, or sit-ins at locals clinics around the world (save the two Ugandan women who spent the night at the clinic) in response to this global crisis? Why do we not take a stand for the women of the world in need? These women, who are struggling to overcome a long list of burdens in their daily lives, need us to take action. By standing strong collectively, we can change women’s access to reproductive health care around the world.
Two important initiatives are coming up in Congress in September: a permanent repeal to the Global Gag Rule and an increase in funding for family planning.
Access to family planning is one of the lowest cost and most effective health interventions and can have some of the most dramatic impacts on the opportunities women have throughout their lives. Each $100 million provided for family planning services abroad results in:
- 3.6 million contraceptive users
- 970,000 fewer unplanned births
- 70,000 infant deaths averted
- 4,000 maternal lives saved
- 2.1 million unintended pregnancies avoided
$100 million may sound like a lot, but that actually equates to about .003% of the US Federal budget. For three one hundredths of a percent of the national budget, we could reach 3.6 million women with contraceptives.
If you believe strongly—as I do—that all women have the right to access quality reproductive health services beyond just “crossing your fingers,” share you story. Stand up and stand strong. Are you ready to do something?
Read more: birth control, contraception, development, global gag rule, reproductive health, womens rights
Photo by Sarah Day
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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+ add your ownUntil all women have control over how many children they bring into the world the tens of thousands of innocents being born only to suffer and die will continue and even escalate.
I agree with Lesa....while our school funds are being dropped, teachers let go, a rising debt, and too many people unemployed, we should not be sending every last resource we have overseas, although I do agree that everyone should so WHAT THEY CAN-not empty their wallets.
Contraception is essential.
NO woman has freedom, until all women have freedom. Women in the US do not realize how quickly and completely all their "rights" could be taken away by a right wing agenda. We needed the ERA 20 years ago, we need it now! WAKE UP women!
Subhash, thank you for your interest in making a commitment to support this issue. If you would like to donate to efforts to change women's access to reproductive health care, I would suggest Pathfinder International (http://www.pathfind.org). Americans for UNFPA also has donation options.
Any time is appropriate for dwelling on and doing something for this issue of universal concern. I am grateful that it has been done here and now, yet again at Care2.
I am certain, ranging from the richest to the poorest nations of the world, there are sections of the society where women are unable to access contraception for a variety of reasons which a minimal effort by the society can overcome; as the author has pointed out it is just 300 m USD. If the ones amongst us who can afford (I assume 25 per cent of world population of nearly 7 billions can), contribute just 2 cents each, we should have the funds needed for providing protection to those who need it the most.
I promise a small contribution myself, lets say USD 100 and make a beginnig. Will Care2 make a collection on behalf of all and give the money to UN Population Fund administering it efficiently - I could help administering it.
Many thanks JaimeAlexis F for posting this.
I find it very strange that people who don't want protection from pregnancy and STDs believe that they have the right to dictate to women who do want the protect that can be given from achieving it. It is common sense, do you try and prevent a problem, or do you wait for the problem to happen and then prevent the provision of the resources to solve the problem.
there are people out there with some strange ways of thinking.
It's amazing how many lives could be saved or improved by such a simple thing as contraception. How can anyone still think of it as being sinful?
As a woman it is our right to have a right over our body and lifes .. full stop... The pope does not help with childcare in any way... or any religious leader
Women need to wake up once again for their rights.
Pam, I have to agree with you about the Pope. Define irony: a CELIBATE MAN making decisions about the reproductive rights/freedoms of WOMEN of childbearing years!
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