Women First Digital (WFD), an eHealth social enterprise that operates two safe abortion websites – howtouseabortionpill.org and safe2choose.org is pleased to announce that is has joined the ‘She Makes Her Safe Choice’ programme, funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery.

This program is led by Rutgers, a Netherlands-based international center aiming to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people globally, in partnership with DKT International, Ipas Africa Alliance, Shujaaz Inc., Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) and Triggerise. Scheduled to run until 2022, the She Makes Her Safe Choice program aims to reduce the number of unsafe abortions globally by ensuring improved and equitable access to safe abortion information and services.

“Rutgers is very pleased to have WFD join our She Makes Her Safe Choice programme,” says Paula Dijk, Programme Manager of Rutgers. “We see an increasing need for online information and, especially in times of COVID-19, an enormous potential to reach women and girls via mHealth. WFD is able to contribute to address this need through the online solutions they offer; our partnership with WFD will be an important attribution to our programme.”

WFD will work with Rutgers globally, and in Kenya and Francophone West Africa to increase access to information that allow women in each focus region to safely self-manage an abortion and, where needed, be referred to a safe abortion provider near them. Through its online safe abortion platforms, WFD will promote its counselling services; launch automated systems to support women and girls in Kenya; refer women to trusted and quality health providers; and ensure mobile friendly websites for equitable access to correct information.

“Women have the right to make their own choices about their lives and bodies, including whether or not to have a child, and the right to receive the necessary support to realize their choices safely,” says Tisha Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director of WFD. “WFD has been working over the last five years to de-medicalize and de-stigmatize safe abortion access. Through the She Makes Her Safe Choice program, WFD is well-positioned to extend its work in Kenya and Francophone West and Central Africa.”

Contacts

WFD: Tisha Gopalakrishnan – tisha@womenfirstdigital.org

Rutgers: Saskia Husken – S.Husken@rutgers.nl