The First centre to offer abortions in Ireland to open in Belfast.
Marie Stopes International is set to open the ground-breaking clinic next week and, as to be expected, has polarised opinion. Women and sexual health providers welcome the move while there is the usual uproar from those against women’s choice. The clinic will only be offering what is already allowed within the current law but with the added benefit of somewhere women can go for help and support should they need to travel to England or Scotland to access services. Officially anounced today, though leaked last week, Dawn Purvis, Programme Director at Marie Stopes Northern Ireland said: “We believe this is great news for the people of Northern Ireland because we will be able to meet their family planning and sexual health needs in a way that has not been seen here before. We have a new, purpose built, centrally-located specialist centre; our team are highly trained and dedicated health care professionals; and our services will be delivered in a confidential, sensitive and non-judgemental way”. The Service will offer contraceptive options, HIV testing, STI testing and treatment, ultrasound scanning, and medical abortion up to nine weeks gestation. More from mariestopes.org
Meanwhile,
Science ‘contradicts’ Cabinet Ministers’ claims
Attempts to reduce the time-limit on abortions following Maria Miller’s claim that “science has moved on” will hopefully flounder – assisted by the newly published infant mortality rates for 2010 which show no improvement in survival for extremely premature babies born at 22-23 weeks. More from ONS .
In addition, David Cameron stated in an interview that “… people need to know the govenment has got no plans to bring forward any legislation in this area, and any vote that does happen will be a free vote.” The last time MPs voted on the issue was in 2008 when they decided to retain the 24 weeks limit. In reality only one in ten abortions in England and Wales takes place after 13 weeks.
Cross-party unwanted pregnancy inquiry launches online survey
Amber Rudd MP has launched an online survey for women in the context of her parliamentary inquiry into unwanted pregnancy. It can be accessed at: http://bit.ly/Wjm2uQ
While in the US,
Free access to long-acting, reversible contraception has been shown to significantly reduce unplanned pregnancies and abortions. The ongoing Contraceptive CHOICE Project in Missouri featured mostly young and poor women from St. Louis.