Family Planning for Guatemalans Living in Poverty

With the continued support of our donors, WINGS' Family Planning Program has been able to make a major impact this year. In the first nine months of 2008, WINGS subsidized enough short- and long-term birth control methods to provide over 64,000 Couple Years Protection (one couple year protection is equal to the amount of contraception necessary to protect one couple for one year), including 390 vasectomies; 4,646 tubal ligations; 3,648 Jadelle implants; and 6,065 condoms.

So what do those numbers really mean? Well, it means that Albertina, a 34-year-old mother of eight, was able to obtain a tubal ligation that allowed her to focus on the health and education of her existing children. And it means that Jorge, 34 years old and a father of four, could afford a vasectomy and have the chance to ensure that all of his children have enough to eat. And, it means that Lasvia, a 19-year-old married mother of two, could get a Jadelle implant that would enable her to delay any future pregnancies until she and her husband were ready to take on the additional responsibility.

Access to WINGS-subsidized family planning methods allows thousands of Guatemalans to choose the number and timing of their children, to take control of their reproductive health, and to improve the quality of their lives.

On behalf of the many Guatemalans your donations will impact, we thank you for your support.