Reuters: From Burkina to Zimbabwe, U.S. aid cuts squeeze family planning services
“…[USAID] cut all money for Marie Stopes International when it refused to comply with a rule reinstated by Republican President Donald Trump in January 2017. It bans [U.S. global health] funding to any foreign NGO carrying out or offering advice on abortions anywhere. The goal is to please Christian conservatives who strongly oppose abortion and are a major part of Trump’s political base. MSI and the International Planned Parenthood Federation are among only four [prime recipients] to reject the conditions of the order. They offer abortion services, in accordance with local rules, and say it is a last resort in preventing unwanted or unsafe births. USAID says … other NGOS still receive funding. But in Africa, MSI and IPPF are the two largest NGO providers of free contraception and family planning advice…” (Cocks et al., 5/22).