U.S. cuts condom funding in Africa

LONDON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. government has acted to keep contraceptives from reaching clinics run by a charity in Africa, claiming the group condones forced abortions.

The Guardian reported Saturday that the clinic, Marie Stopes International, based in London, denies it supports either forced abortions or sterilization anywhere in the world.

The group says the Bush administration's move will actually lead to more abortions being performed in Africa because fewer women will have access to contraception.

Kent Hill, assistant administrator for global health at the United States Agency for International Development, in a letter to the organization's head, Dana Hovig, noted while MSI did not receive any direct funds from the U.S. government this year, in some countries MSI gets condoms and/or other contraceptives from host governments that receive them from USAID.

He said USAID is telling its missions to work with governments "to ensure that no such USAID-funded commodities are distributed to MSI at this time."

Hovig said the Bush administration made the wrong decision.

"At a time when governments have pledged to increase their commitment to improving the health of women, only the Bush administration could find logic in the idea that they can reduce abortion and promote choice for women in China by causing more abortion," Hovig said.