Making Childbirth Safe, Everywhere

To the Editor:

“They Think They’ve Been Cursed by God,” by Nicholas D. Kristof (column, Feb. 25), highlights the terrible suffering millions of women endure from crippling childbirth injuries.

Having visited camps for internally displaced persons in northern Uganda last week, I can personally attest to the dire need for family planning in this war-torn region. Our team met with about 140 women, many of whom were desperate for contraception. Spacing pregnancies can save children’s lives.

Without safe and effective contraception, women and girls will continue to suffer debilitating injuries like obstetric fistula. The government of Uganda, its donor countries and nongovernmental and United Nations agencies should ensure that family planning services are available to people displaced by conflict.

Sandra Krause
Director, Reproductive Health Project,
Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children
New York, Feb. 27, 2007