We have been working alongside our global partners for years to advance many of the recommendations within WHO’s latest guidelines
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued new guidelines on abortion to help countries deliver lifesaving care to those who need it. For the first time ever, the guidelines include gender-inclusive language and recommendations for use of telemedicine given the overwhelming body of evidence pointing to self-managed abortion as a safe, effective option for people who are eligible. Additional recommendations from WHO include:
- Highlight self-managed abortion before 12 weeks as a safe, effective option with outcomes comparable to abortions performed in clinical settings barring complications.
- Eliminate laws that criminalize abortion and, in countries where abortion is legal, eliminate all barriers that exist to access abortion.
- Expand the types of professionals who can offer abortion care prior to 12 weeks, including nurses, pharmacists and community health workers who can provide care in primary care settings.
- Extend access to telemedicine as a safe, reliable alternative to in-person interactions with health professionals for medical abortion. The registration and availability of misoprostol and mifepristone are crucial to accomplishing this.
In response to WHO’s new abortion guidelines, Giselle Carino, Chief Executive Officer of Fòs Feminista, issued the following statement:
“At Fòs Feminista, we’ve been working alongside our global partners for years to advance many of the recommendations within WHO’s latest guidelines. Specifically, we support our partners as they provide self-managed abortion options, telemedicine care, and community-based abortion care. Without a doubt, we can certify that WHO’s guidelines reflect services and policy changes that are crucial for reproductive justice in countries across the world — regardless of the strength of their healthcare systems.
Media contact: mboldt@mrss.com
