“Sexual and reproductive health and rights are central to people’s lives and essential for their well-being. Improving sexual and reproductive health and rights contributes to reducing poverty and achieving other development goals” (UNFPA Report).

On my recent trip to Bocas Del Toro, Panama, I learned that the lack of family planning among the different communities I visited was a huge area of concern. The average number of children per household was 5.6 (around 6 children per couple). This is being addressed by Floating Doctors (F.D.) making birth control available, especially the 3-month Depo injection. The adequate delivery of Depo shots has been identified as the number one priority health intervention surpassing HIV and TB health interventions.  

Just a donation of $35 will protect a woman for ONE FULL YEAR from getting pregnant. Many women in this region lack any other sustainable source of contraception and without it, having many pregnancies throughout life is more like a fact than the option we would like it to be.  Every three months for over 5 years, F.D. has visited each community in our network and helped hundreds of women exercise control over their own bodies and destinies.

Please help us in our effort of trying to raise funds so the women can receive Depo shots. Access to family planning will protect women and their children from poverty, lack of education and lack of essential resources needed to survive and flourish. Suddenly $35 a year seems like a bargain for the result!