Celebrity campaign inspires action for global women’s health & contraception
[EngenderHealth, New York, September 22, 2014] EngenderHealth, a leading global women’s health organization, announced today the launch of its WTFP?! (Where’s the Family Planning?!) campaign to raise awareness of the crucial need for contraception by millions of women in developing countries. Academy Award–winning actress Mira Sorvino is partnering with EngenderHealth to bring attention to this global public health issue.
This week, EngenderHealth released its first campaign video: “History’s Worst Contraceptives.”
“Family planning is a game changer in women’s lives. When a woman is able to have the number of children she wants, not the number her circumstances dictate, transformative events happen: She goes further in school, she is more likely to invest money back into her family, and her family is more likely to prosper,” said Pamela W. Barnes, President and CEO of EngenderHealth. “Our WTFP?! campaign is giving voice to the millions of women around the world who are asking: Where is the family planning that I need for a better future?” said Barnes.
Today, more than 220 million women in developing countries who want to delay or avoid pregnancy are not using modern contraception, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research and advocacy organization. Women around the world encounter a variety of challenges in accessing contraception—including cultural restrictions, lack of supplies or money, misinformation, and lack of trained health providers—but these are barriers that can and should be overcome.
It turns out most Americans agree: A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll® found that 89% of Americans believe that women everywhere should have access to contraception and 87% believe that access to contraception is important to being able to achieve one’s life goals. And the economics make sense: Research shows that for every dollar governments invest in family planning, up to $6 can be saved in other development areas, such as poverty reduction, education, or disaster preparedness projects.
EngenderHealth’s WTFP?! campaign will bring attention to and inspire action to make contraception and maternal health available to women everywhere—through social media, videos, and stories. Visit WheresTheFP.org to learn more.
Media contacts:
- Sari Schwartz, EngenderHealth/212-561-8051/sschwartz@engenderhealth.org
- Theresa Kim, EngenderHealth/212-993-9834/tkim@engenderhealth.org
About EngenderHealth
EngenderHealth is a leading global women’s health organization committed to ensuring that every pregnancy is planned, every child is wanted, and every mother has the best chance at survival. In 20 countries around the world, we train health care professionals and partner with governments and communities to make high-quality family planning and sexual and reproductive health services available—today and for generations to come. Visit www.engenderhealth.org for more information.
