Thanks to your support
2017 was undoubtedly a challenging year for the Marie Stopes International (MSI) partnership. As funding cuts took hold due to the Trump Administration’s Global Gag Rule, many of our 37 country programs across the globe struggled to keep family planning services going for those who need us most.
But thanks to your support, we managed to continue providing these lifesaving services to vulnerable women and girls. Last year, US donors helped us deliver reproductive choice directly to clients in 27 of the 37 countries where MSI provides family planning services.
You helped women like Bako in Madagascar. As a mother to two young children, Bako knows the importance of family planning. That’s why she and her husband have made the hour-long journey on foot to a Marie Stopes outreach team. To her, contraception is a necessity.
“Life is hard with two young children, and we cannot afford to have another one.”
Apart from the Marie Stopes outreach team, she knows of no place to receive the contraception she needs.
Or take Nisha, a 19-year-old young woman in Nepal who came to a Marie Stopes clinic to access safe abortion care.
“When I came to the Marie Stopes Center, the environment here was nice, and the staff was friendly. Even when I told them I was not married they treated me well and provided detailed information. Right now, my focus is on my studies and to achieve better in life.”
Thanks to your contributions, she was able to receive the counseling and safe abortion services from us that she needed to regain control of her future.
In 2017, we reached one million adolescent clients. Our services prevented 8.2 million unintended pregnancies, and 5.4 million unsafe abortions. Your unwavering commitment to women everywhere ensured that we were able to fulfill our promise to those in need around the world.
We are deeply grateful for the solidarity and financial assistance our US supporters provided in 2017. Your confidence helped us fight courageously as our US Government funding quickly disappeared due to the Global Gag Rule. We cannot thank you enough.
Read more in the MSI-US 2017 Annual Report.
