Uniting together, health organisations from around the world have condemned
the US administration's ban on supplying contraceptives to MSI.
The ban was imposed in late September under the
Kemp Kasten amendment and re-iterated in a
USAID press statement on October 10th.
Since being imposed, MSI has been inundated with statements of support from organisations within the US and from the rest of the world. Below are just a few of those statements along with some of the stories that have appeared in the media highlighting the effects that this ban is having on some of the poorest people in the world.
Letter from Ms Nina Lowey, Chairwoman, US Sub committee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs to Condeleezza Rice, US Secretary of State
"I write to register my strongest concern for the recent State Department decision to withhold US funded contraceptives from Marie Stopes International...by ordering six partner governments in Africa to stop providing US donated contraceptives and supplies to MSI is an extreme policy..."
to read further...
Statement from the Global Health Council
"The Global Health Council is requesting U.S. government authorities to provide evidence that MSI has violated Kemp-Kasten and is in conversation with representatives of African governments to determine whether U.S. pressure will impact the delivery of reproductive health services."
to read further...
Statement from the European network of sexual & reproductive health organisations (EuroNGOs)"Given that Marie Stopes International is a global leader in reproductive health care and in many countries provides a significant proportion of all family planning services, USAID’s decision is likely to endanger the lives of thousands of women. "
to read further...Statement from the Guttmacher Institute
"This is the latest move by the Bush administration in a progression of increasingly restrictive family planning policy decisions that put politics first and women’s needs last. Though the stated purpose of this action is to reduce abortion, the effect will likely be the opposite."
to read further...
Population Action International joins European Partners in condemning U.S. Government’s ban on contraceptives to Africa
"The European NGOs for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Population and Development (EuroNGOs) issued a statement today shocked about a recent decision by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)."
to read further...Center for Health and Gender Equality"Today, CHANGE strongly condemned the Bush administration for its efforts to ban contraceptive supplies donated to national governments from reaching Marie Stopes International (MSI)."
read further...Statement from US public health professionals
"We deplore this callous and politically questionable action. This nearsighted maneuver will have direct and dire consequences for women in the affected countries – Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe – and will translate almost immediately into increased maternal death and disability. "
to read further...
Press release from MSI Uganda
"We have an exceptional and long relationship with the Ministry of Health, as well as our other partners and stakeholders in Uganda. We will continue to work with the MoH and our other partners and stakeholders to ensure we are fulfilling our mission to provide reproductive health services in Uganda and that there is minimal disruption in the supply of contraceptives to women in Uganda."
to read further...
For media response to the Bush ban, please click here