Marie Stopes International in the news

Cries & whispers: untold stories of unsafe abortion

Marie Stopes International launched Cries and Whispers in London on 16 October. The book features the testimonies of women who live in countries where access to abortion is severely curtailed by law. Inspired by the publication, for which she wrote an introduction, UK Editor of Marie Claire magazine Marie O’Riordan commissioned a major feature on a similar theme, which featured the stories of several women sourced by MSI and its Partners from China, Ghana, Mexico, Ireland, South Africa and the USA.

World Contraception Day

Marie Stopes International Chief Executive Dana Hovig, shared a platform with glamorous Hollywood starlet Mischa Barton in Berlin to promote World Contraception Day (September 26th) the first ever global day dedicated to raising public awareness about the need for modern reliable contraceptive methods. Over 100 European journalists attended the launch, which resulted in extensive coverage as far afield as Jamaica and Australia. Ireland’s leading youth magazine, Hot Press, devoted several pages to the issue, quoting Dana: “World Contraception Day is a much needed campaign to highlight the importance of enabling women and men to make informed decisions about becoming parents at a time that’s right for them.”

Safe sex campaign targets teens

World Contraception Day and its theme ‘Live your life before you start another’, attempts to reach out to teenagers who do not use contraception during intercourse. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that 36.5% of young people between 15 and 19 are sexually active, but only 90% of these individuals use some form of contraception. Jill Michelson of Marie Stopes International asserts that ‘being in control of your fertility empowers you to choose when you become a parent, rather than letting it happen by chance.’ A rise in sexually transmitted infection has alarmed many experts in the field as well where half of the Chlamydia cases this year involve patients between 15 and 24 years old. Ultimately, it is suggested that the best form of contraception is condom use during any acts of intercourse. Couriermail.com.au 26 September 2007.

Mass awareness against HIV underlined

The Asia Intelligence Wire recently reported that volunteers of Behtar Kal Programme, a health project launched by the Federal Health Ministry and Marie Stopes Society in addition to Sindh Health and Education Development Society [SHEDS] in Sindh, have detected 10 individuals who are HIV positive in Hyderabad City. The number of HIV Positive individuals could be much higher in the city, but because of a lack of awareness and literacy, many people avoided being tested. In connection with the Behtar Kal Programme, Volunteer Counselling and Testing Centres were established to provide counselling and testing services for HIV/AIDS to people engaging in high-risk behaviours and HIV-Positive individuals. These programmes and networks have increased awareness of issues concerning sexual health and HIV/AIDS prevention, which has resulted in greater communication and service accessibility for those dedicated to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.