As a global health organization, and as individuals living and working around the world, we at Ipas are feeling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19).  

During this very challenging time, we remain committed to our mission to expand access to safe abortion and contraceptive care, while equally committed to protecting the health and safety of our staff members and the people we serve. Our staff around the world will be working remotely instead of in our offices, and we’re cancelling most in-person research activities, meetings and events. We have established plans and protocols to protect people’s health while also continuing our work with minimum disruption and maximum safety. 

In times of crisis, we know that women and girls are often disproportionately affected. Sexual and reproductive health care may be neglected or difficult to access, and disrupted supply chains may reduce access to contraceptives and safe abortion supplies. All these factors can in turn drive more people to seek unsafe abortions. We must remember that abortion care is a time-sensitive service that cannot be significantly deferred without profound consequences for women and their families. Therefore, we’ll work to ensure that pregnancy care, including abortion care, remains an essential health service during the coronavirus outbreak.  

We also see that this crisis may present opportunities for innovation in how abortion care is delivered. As we strive to protect both clients and health providers from infectious disease, we will explore ways to expand access to abortion with pills, which allows women to self-administer at home and follow-up remotely with a provider. Health facilities may be able to integrate abortion with pills into their telemedicine programs, and pharmacy-based programs could minimize the need for women seeking abortion to visit already overburdened hospitals and clinics. 

The bottom line is that during this crisis, pregnant people will continue to need reproductive health care, including abortion—and perhaps they’ll need it more urgently than before. But fighting for safe, legal abortion in the midst of adversity is something Ipas has done for almost 50 years. We plan to keep fighting, and we’ll keep you informed as the situation evolves. 

Wishing you health and safety, 
 

Anu Kumar 

Ipas President and CEO