Responding to the news that the UK’s FCDO will reduce global funding for sexual and reproductive healthcare, Simon Cooke, MSI Reproductive Choices’ CEO, said:
“The UK Government’s confirmation yesterday of more cuts to funding for lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services could not have come at a worse time, with rights under attack around the world, aid shrinking and demand rising.
“Whilst we welcome the clarity the Foreign Secretary’s announcement provides, we must be clear that these cuts will cause significant harm to the poorest communities and reverse recent progress made on girls’ education, maternal mortality rates and increased resilience to the climate crisis. It will also damage the UK’s relationships with government partners in Africa at a time when the government is looking to rebuild its credibility on the global stage.
“Cuts include a 23% reduction to the UK’s flagship Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH2) programme, which brings high quality sexual and reproductive healthcare services to millions of women and girls across West and Central Africa. This will have a significant impact, leading to an additional 410,000 unintended pregnancies, 1,000 maternal deaths and 110,000 unsafe abortions.
“The global landscape for reproductive rights is becoming increasingly hostile, and many of our partners have already had to scale back programmes or close their doors altogether. We call on the UK government to rethink its approach to funding its most effective and proven aid investments.
“Investing in sexual and reproductive health is not just the right thing to do, it’s one of the most cost-effective, because there is a ripple effect that extends across health, education and gender equality.
“Now more than ever we need strong political and financial leadership on gender equality, to rebuild the UK’s role as a trusted, progressive, and reliable partner to governments and women and girls around the world.”
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