Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

LynnCSchreiber - live blog from Family Planning Summit on 11th July

106 replies

MmeLindor. · 02/07/2012 08:37

I have recently returned from Kenya, where I was blogging about reproductive rights and the issues millions of women have in accessing family planning.

The Gates Foundation has an ambitious of ensuring that an additional 120m women around the world have access to contraceptives.

Currently the lack of contraception in the developing world means that women are having more babies than they would like, and with small age gaps.

The consequences are many. High maternal mortality, high infant mortality, an appallingly high number or unsafe abortions, particularly in countries where abortion is illegal or difficult to access. Girls don't finish school because they get pregnant so are unable to help lift their families out of poverty.

The UK and the Gates Foundation are hosting a summit this month to raise awareness and funds to fight this issue.

I will, along with many other bloggers who were on the trip, be blogging live from London.

If you have any questions, post them here and I'll try to get answers for you.

You can see what I've been doing in Kenya on the blog: www.saltandcaramel.com

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 10:14

Panel discussion now about increasing access and expanding choice.

Introduced by Dr Margaret Chan, the WHO Director General.

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 10:07

Ethiopian Health Minister>

'Family planning which has been a highly politicised issue in the past years has changed'

This summit is a real opportunity to turn things around.

we have studies that show that increasing access to FP could avert half maternal deaths in the developing world

progress in Ethiopia>

we now have a strong primary health care service

we have seen a real upsurge in voluntary access to FP

contraceptive prevalence has doubled in recent years

we are determined to close the FP gap and improve childhood and maternal health

5 point action plan for Ethiopia to close that gap.

we will make FP available
scale up the delivery of FP
we will help adolescent girls access FP

(sorry missed, the other two cause he is talking so fast)

It is not what we are promising here today, but what we do when we get back home tomorrow

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 10:02

Minister of Health of Ethiopia is speaking

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 09:59

Video address from Ban Ki-Moon

'the health of women and children is my personal priority'

aim is that 'no child is born unwanted and no woman dies needlessly in childbirth'

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 09:56

Jane, who grew up in the urban slums of Nairobi

'it is home. It is very difficult, there is a lot of poverty. When we had no food and problems, the church stepped up. My mother was a role model. Wait to have children, do not have children as early as I did. I decided to wait until I finished my college and get my education. I had my first child at 29 and now have three lovely children. I now work to encourage girls and young women, and tell them that they can have big dreams, just like I did.

I tell them that they should wait to have babies. Because someone told me about FP very early, I was able to wait and to space my children.

I believe that you can make a difference to these women

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 09:51

'the best part of my work at the foundation, being out in the field'

'after these visits I am left with the overwhelming sense of women's resistance and thier hope for the future'

Woman called Marianne told her > 'I want to bring every good thing to this child before I have another one'

This idea is universal, but access to contraception is not universal

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 09:46

Melinda Gates speaking>

this summit is an important milestone in the history of fp

it marks a new beginning / we will bring far more resources . it is being led by the developing world

most important / we are putting women at the very centre of this issue.

are we making it easier for women to get access to contraception they need, when they need them

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 09:34

One of the other bloggers has introduced himself with the words, 'My partner is a MNetter'.

Reveal yourself (via PM if you prefer)

Or not, if you want to be anonymous :)

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 09:32

Aye
There is something this afternoon on empowering women, so they might talk about domestic violence and the role men have to play then.

OP posts:
AyeRobot · 11/07/2012 09:26

MmeLindor, is there any discussion at the conference about educating men about not putting their orgasm above the lives of women their partners at risk?

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 09:18

Oooh, first hate tweet.

'aborting today?'

Will be interesting to see if there is a concentrated protest from anti-choice activists or if this was a one off.

I will not be engaging in Twitter war with anyone. Nothing against a civil debate, but not getting into slanging matches.

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 08:50

Link

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 08:50

You can follow me on Twitter twitter.com/LynnCSchreiber

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 11/07/2012 08:42

Ok, sitting pretty in the Blogger Alley waiting for the conference to start. There is quite a buzz in the air.

OP posts:
blackcurrants · 11/07/2012 00:58

Good luck tomorrow, Mme Lindor - I've been boosting the signal a bit on FB and twitter, very very impressed that you're part of this vital work.

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 10/07/2012 23:48

Am in London and ready to go. Was at a reception tonight and met some interesting folk. Will be up bright and early to get there on time. Slightly underestimated travelling time to hotel, so have to check how to get to the venue on time.

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 10/07/2012 12:32

Report from the BBC

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 10/07/2012 12:22

Thanks, Messy.

Link to website Am glad that they are doing a live stream, should be interesting. Am not sure what they will be streaming, but I will try and give you a heads-up if there is something that I think you would be interested in.

OP posts:
messyisthenewtidy · 10/07/2012 11:05

Just: Good luck! Have been following your blog and have learnt loads from it. Will try to watch a bit of the live stream tomorrow and look forward to your next installment.

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 10/07/2012 09:07

On my way to London. If there is any issue you want me to raise, speak now ...

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor. · 03/07/2012 17:37

Sweet
Longer lasting contraceptives are very popular cause women can hide them from their husbands.

OP posts:
SweetTheSting · 03/07/2012 09:15

Is it known what the attitude is to longer acting contraception eg implants or are there just not enough medical personnel for this to be realistic?

Well done on doing this!

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 02/07/2012 17:23

Please do, oracle.

MooncupGodess
I don't think so but will check. That is one of the things that concerns me - there is a lot of money flowing into thousands of NGOs - which ones are actually benefitting people on the ground.

OP posts:
OracleInLeCoracle · 02/07/2012 17:01

and can I link to FB?

OracleInLeCoracle · 02/07/2012 17:01

marking spot