Theatre nurse Jhamaka Limbu assists in an abortion at the Family Health centre in Itari, Sansari, Nepal. According to the WTO, approximately 68,000 women die annually due to complications of unsafe abortion; between 2 and 7 million women each year sustain long-term damage or disease. Photo: IPPF / Tom Pilston

Defying Donald Trump’s abortion ‘gag rule’ essential for women’s health

Nerida Williams says organisations like the International Planned Parenthood Federation continue to provide important family planning and health services to women despite the US funding block

Nerida Williams

Published: 2:03pm, 24 Sep 2017

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A young woman lays back calmly, a nurse gently stroking her hand and asking a series of mundane questions to keep her at her ease. A doctor then starts performing a manual vacuum abortion.

This is taking place in the deep south of Nepal, which has legalised abortion. In theory, Nepali women can choose to discontinue their pregnancy safely and legally before the 12-week mark.

Even so, Meheshawar Yadav, the doctor performing the procedure, reckons most of the roughly seven women he sees daily attempt an unsafe abortion at home before arriving at the clinic, run by the Family Planning Association of Nepal.

Abortions in the clinic cost 1,200 Nepalese rupees (HK$90), but they are free for those who are very poor or have extenuating circumstances.

Earlier this year, surrounded by a sea of other men, US President Donald Trump reinstated the “global gag rule”, a Reagan-era rule which ensures that any overseas organisation performing or even counselling on abortion care will have all its US funding cut – whether the funding is spent on abortion services or not. The care lost will affect millions, the vast majority of them poor, who rely on US-funded projects for contraception, HIV prevention and other vital health services.

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Within the US itself, Trump’s actions have created a new platform for the anti-choice coalition dedicated to coercion of women. US doctors who perform abortions are often bullied – online and in person – for doing their jobs.

Maheshwar Yadav in his operating theatre preparing for an abortion at the Itari Family Health centre in Nepal. The biggest hurdles for women in Nepal in accessing safe abortion care remain the lack of awareness and poverty. Fear of going to a clinic, lack of money or both mean women often take unauthorised drugs to discontinue pregnancies. Photo: IPPF / Tom Pilston

Mesheshwar, on the border of India and Nepal, is oblivious to the vitriol. Asked if he has ever received any backlash, his answer is a simple “no”.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation, of which the Family Planning Association of Nepal is a member, refused to stop providing vital health care. In Nepal, we continue to provide services and advocate for reproductive and sexual health and rights, despite the US funding cut.

Trump halts cash for UN Population Fund because of ‘coercive abortions’ in China

The biggest hurdles for women in Nepal in accessing safe abortion care remain the lack of awareness and poverty. Fear of going to a clinic, lack of money or both mean women often take unauthorised drugs to discontinue pregnancies.

According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 68,000 women die annually due to complications of unsafe abortion; between 2 and 7 million women each year sustain long-term damage or disease. Coercive laws do not prevent desperate women from seeking abortion. They instead result in death or mutilation.

Nerida Williams is a senior communications adviser in the Humanitarian Programme of the International Planned Parenthood Federation

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Defying the abortion ‘gag’

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