There should be no debate – access to sexual and reproductive healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Everyone deserves timely and confidential care. Everyone deserves to have the power to make informed choices about their bodies, futures and families – no matter who they are or where they live.

Yet, for millions of people, these rights are out of reach. Gaps in accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare are widening in many parts of the world. The consequences are dire. The burden falls heaviest on people affected by poverty, conflict and displacement. Today, a staggering 99 per cent of maternal deaths take place in lower- or lower-middle-income countries. Most of these deaths would be preventable if appropriate medical care was available.

Every day, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff see firsthand the devastating impact of limited sexual and reproductive care in the places where we work. In Yemen, people often travel for hours to reach the nearest hospital. This can turn easily treatable pregnancy complications into life-threatening emergencies. In response, MSF has expanded our maternity services in the country. In some places, we are the only ones providing 24/7 care.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, we see an alarming increase in the number of sexual violence cases. For people who are survivors of sexual violence, immediate physical and psychological care is vital. Yet stigma often prevents people from seeking treatment. To help address this, MSF is engaging with communities to ensure people know where they can receive confidential care.

Ensuring access to sexual and reproductive healthcare…
is about upholding people’s dignity and autonomy.

Around the world, lack of access to safe abortion care forces many people to turn to unsafe methods. Each year, this leads to an estimated 29,000 deaths and millions of serious complications. Since 2016, MSF has intensified our efforts to provide safe abortion care and contraception. As reproductive rights face growing restrictions around the world, this work has become more critical than ever.

This issue of Dispatches amplifies the voices of our patients and our staff. But these are more than just stories. They illustrate the profound impact of accessible sexual and reproductive health services on people’s lives.

We must break down barriers, challenge inequities and advocate for healthcare as a universal right. Ensuring access to sexual and reproductive healthcare is not just about medicine. It’s about upholding people’s dignity and autonomy.

Thank you for standing with us in this crucial work.