Dear Friend,
I’ve completed six surgical assignments with MSF as an OB-GYN in Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Ivory Coast, and Iraq. One thing consistently rings true: No matter where they live, people who are denied access to safe abortion care are at greater risk for complications than those who can access safe care. The deadly consequences of unsafe abortions and lack of access to comprehensive health care are why Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) remains committed to providing sexual and reproductive health care to people around the world.
The Trump Administration’s recent reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, also known as the Global Gag Rule, is an attack on women’s health and anyone seeking reproductive services worldwide. This policy prevents organizations abroad from receiving US global assistance if they use their own non-US government funds to provide or advocate for safe abortion care. This restriction applies to direct services, counseling, and referrals—even in countries where abortion is legal.
While MSF USA does not accept US government funding and is not directly affected by the Global Gag Rule, we work closely with other health providers who are. We cannot do this work alone, and we know that policies impeding access to sexual and reproductive health services harm patients and communities globally.
Read more about the devastating impact these policies present for our patients, and MSF’s commitment to supporting safe reproductive health care around the world.
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When safe abortion care is inaccessible, people are more likely to seek out unsafe abortion methods—one of the leading causes of maternal death and injury worldwide. Globally, an estimated 29,000 people die every year from unsafe abortions. Of those who survive, 7 million are hospitalized every year due to complications from unsafe abortions. In 2023 alone, MSF provided more than 31,000 consultations for post-abortion care, most of which were due to complications related to unsafe abortion. The risks are even higher for those seeking reproductive care in humanitarian settings where medical services are already limited.
The consequences of the Global Gag Rule when it was last in place from 2017 to 2021 were widespread and dire. Critical health programs were disrupted and suspended in low- and middle-income countries, which has had a continued impact on people and health providers around the world. This policy will have the same outcome today as it did then: Patients will lose access to vital health services.
MSF has repeatedly spoken out about the harmful impacts of limiting access to safe abortion care and reproductive health services, and we will continue to bear witness in the communities in which we work, regardless of who is in office. Our work is powered by private individuals like you, allowing us to remain independent and provide care based on needs alone. Thank you for your support.
With gratitude,
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| Dr. Rasha Khoury, OB-GYN
President of the Board of Directors
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières USA
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