Family Planning in El Chocó: A Win for Women’s Reproductive Justice and Nature Conservation
Over the course of two days, Women for Conservation in collaboration with ProAves and Profamilia organized a reproductive health brigade in Medellín, where 23 women on our waitlist from El Carmen de Atrato, Chocó, received tubal ligation procedures. This family planning method allows women to plan their families safely while contributing to environmental conservation.
This women’s reproductive justice initiative aims to provide rural women in buffer zones, like the ProAves Las Tángaras Reserve—declared the first Regional Natural Park in Chocó—with access to reproductive health services. The reserve is home to endemic birds, a variety of amphibians, and mammals that are under threat of extinction.
Providing access to sexual and reproductive health services allows families to access vital health resources and plan for their children, reducing population pressure and preserving the natural habitats and biodiversity in key conservation areas, as we do in 27 nature reserves across the country.
Over the course of two days, medical evaluations and procedures were conducted in a safe environment, ensuring the health and well-being of all the women. Participants also received comprehensive counseling and support to address their concerns, ensuring a calm and reliable family planning experience.
“I chose to undergo tubal ligation (Pomeroy Method) to take care of my health and ensure a good quality of life for my two children. I also believe the current economic situation is challenging. With my decision, I’m contributing to environmental conservation by reducing pollution and teaching my children about the importance of protecting the environment by setting a good example.”
ProAves and Women for Conservation are pleased to provide these family planning opportunities to rural women, who would not have access otherwise, due to living in Colombia’s most remote areas. Their participation highlights the importance of these initiatives in promoting reproductive health and women’s empowerment to make decisions over their own bodies.
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Empowered Women, Protectors of Nature!
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