Marie Stopes clinics still open, says director

Marie Stopes has suspended abortion services as ordered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB).

In a statement issued on Sunday, the organization, however, said it remains open and will continue offering essential family planning, maternal health and general medical services.

“We can confirm that Marie Stopes Kenya has suspended safe abortion services at the request of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board,” said Marie Stopes Kenya Director Dana Tilson.

“Wherever we work, Marie Stopes International respects and complies with national laws and regulations governing abortion.”

In a letter issued on November 14, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board ordered Marie Stopes to stop offering safe abortion services, which is one its major services, as well as retrieve media advertisements advocating for the same.

While accepting to comply with the directive, the Marie Stopes Kenya director said the organization is proud of the “life-changing, life-saving services they have been providing to Kenyans every single day.”

“In Kenya, safe abortion is legally permitted when a woman’s health or life is at risk, yet a lack of awareness about the law means on average seven women die every day as a result of an unsafe abortion,” said Tilson.

“Marie Stopes Kenya has been championing reproductive healthcare for Kenyan women, men and families since 1985 and works hard to ensure that no woman or girl should needlessly lose her life due to an unsafe abortion. We are proud of the life-changing, life-saving services our teams provide to Kenyans every single day,” she said.

The medical board asked Marie Stopes to stop offering abortion services after the international NGO was outed over allegedly performing abortions on underage girls.

CitizenGO, an advocacy group, gathered signatures from over 5,500 people for a petition against abortions that Marie Stopes was said to be carrying out in various centers.