Since a military coup in 2021, the people of Myanmar have faced violence, conflict and major disruption to their healthcare system. The UN reports that 4 million people are displaced.
Adding to this hardship are climate shocks and natural disasters like earthquakes and cyclones, making healthcare even more fragile and inaccessible for some families.
This is a humanitarian crisis.
Nadi, a local MSI nurse, is on the frontlines ensuring women in Myanmar can still access contraception and have agency over their reproductive choices. Watch her at work in this short video ⬇️
MSI Myanmar has been providing sexual and reproductive healthcare for almost 30 years. The programme is led and staffed by locals with community expertise and connections, who understand the unique situation and are dedicated to supporting women and families.
While navigating huge challenges over recent years, the team has been able to continue working because of the strong partnerships they’ve built with local stakeholders. That means MSI is still on the frontlines delivering care in the face of major humanitarian constraints.
Last year, 166,000 women and girls received care from our Myanmar team for contraception, cervical cancer screening and other health needs.
“We face many financial challenges and because MSI offers free services, it makes a significant difference. I do not want to have another child at the moment.”
We operate a network of MSI clinics across the country, providing people with a range of quality sexual and reproductive healthcare – including family planning services.
But not everyone can reach our clinics because large areas of the country are rural and remote. So we take services directly into communities, providing free contraceptive choices for people who wouldn’t otherwise have access.
We have to be careful when travelling into rural communities to provide women with reproductive choices. Nurse Nadi shared that “when a village is unsafe for us to enter because of conflict, we buckle down in a building on the outskirts and get the word out about our services.”
27-year-old Ei Ei works in a factory and lives in a rural village with her husband and son. MSI’s free services were brought directly into her community. After speaking with the MSI health provider about her options, she decided to use a three-year contraceptive implant so she could be in control of her own timeline for having more children.
“Since we live hand to mouth, there are times when we run out of money. For the sake of my son’s future, I wanted a contraceptive method that would help me save money. If life becomes more stable, I can decide to have another child later.”
With conflict ongoing, and with uncertain futures ahead, the people of Myanmar need the knowledge and agency to stay healthy and make decisions about their futures – that includes the ability to plan pregnancies. Access to reproductive healthcare is the backbone of a resilient community.
We’re incredibly proud of our Myanmar team who are out there every day helping to build resilience and support women’s choices.
MSI’s humanitarian aid
In conflict and disaster, women’s health is often neglected. MSI works to protect reproductive health and rights in the world’s toughest contexts.
Support with a donation
It only costs £4 per year to provide someone with life-changing reproductive healthcare. Donate to support our global programmes.
