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Your gift will be used to keep MSI programs doors open and take on additional clients without other options for contraception and safe abortion:
USAID funding cuts are expected to have major impact on the public health system in Ethiopia. The Ministry of Health there has halted all activities and payments related to employees hired with U.S. government support resulting in the termination of 5,000 staff positions. MSI had been contracted to train public healthcare professionals in Ethiopia in the delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare and now there is no-one to train. This will have a profound impact on access to care across the country.
MSI Ethiopia was also supporting private sector facilities to strengthen family planning delivery with USAID funding. This funding has come to an end as a result of the shutdown of USAID.
Private funding is urgently needed to address these situations and to maintain two of MSI Ethiopia’s mobile outreach teams that had been funded by UNFPA. The teams provide essential services in conflict affected Afar, as well as support to 40 public facilities in particularly underserved areas of Tigray, Afar, Amhara, and Oromia.
One of our worst affected country programs is Zimbabwe, where $6.5 million (41% of its donor funding) was cut from MSI’s program Population Services Zimbabwe. The funds had been awarded by USAID to support outreach teams who travel to the most remote areas providing free contraceptive services to women who have little to no other options. This work includes expanding access for people with disabilities, working with church organizations to dispel myths and misconceptions about family planning as well as increasing access for youth and adolescents. Funding is also needed to replace the USAID vehicles our outreach teams depended on to reach women in remote, marginalized communities with free contraception.
We are pivoting to try to keep services going and have deployed emergency funding to temporarily help fill the gap while we look for alternative funding, but if additional funding is not secured by September, 1.3 million women will lose access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, leading to 461,200 unintended pregnancies and 1,400 maternal deaths.
The impact of USAID funding cuts is already visible in Zambia, where USAID slashed $4M for family planning supplies like IUDs, implants and pills that were expected in April. Gifts to The Choice Emergency Fund will enable the MSI Zambia team to purchase supplies directly to ensure continued access for women who have few if any other options for contraception.
In Uganda, there is a real sense of panic, with myths circulating that contraception has been banned. Women are racing to get their implants removed early because they believe contraception is illegal and they do not want to break the law. In some cases, they are being charged extortionate rates by unscrupulous providers.
The Choice Emergency Fund will be used to replace the $2M lost in funding cuts to that MSI teams in Uganda continue to provide safe, quality care and accurate information.
USAID funds a wide range of NGOs, government programs and private sector initiatives, leaving MSI’s team members deeply concerned about how partnerships and services will be affected. Several international NGOs have already put their activities on hold, particularly in sectors such as conservation, infrastructure, livelihoods, and sanitation. Some organizations have begun laying off staff as a result of funding uncertainties. The ripple effect of USAID’s collapse is expected to be significant, particularly for communities reliant on development projects and humanitarian assistance.
UNFPA terminated grant contracts for MSI outreach teams in Madagascar due to the USAID funding cuts, putting lifesaving serves at risk for those most in need. Your support of the Choice Emergency Fund will help MSI teams go to communities beyond the reach of the public health system.
Our doors can stay open in all 36 countries because people like you understand the life-transforming impact of access to choice. With resilience, innovation and your support, we will continue to help women take control of their bodies and lives. We ask you to:
Give Generously. Private funding is crucial to prevent rises in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and related deaths.
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