Santa Cruz – MSI Bolivia delivered more than 1,800 tubal ligations in 2007, nearly half of all such procedures carried-out in Bolivia last year and double the number delivered by MSI there in 2006.
Permanent contraceptive services are projected to grow further this year as MSI expands its network of mobile and clinic-based services from three regions to six, serving largely poor rural communities.
“We are working to meet the unmet need for permanent family planning, especially in poor rural areas, where many women have more than five children and would like to use this method but cannot do so because of long distances and discrimination”, said Ramiro Claure, MSI Bolivia’s country director.
However, Claure pointed out that Bolivia’s take-up rate for female sterilisations (6.5%) remains far lower than other Latin American countries such as Brasil (42.7%), El Salvador (32.4%), Colombia (26.4%) and Ecuador (22.5%).
“Demand for permanent contraception is high here in Bolivia. We will continue to extend our services wherever possible and plan to top 4,000 voluntary procedures this year,” said Claure.
MSI's programme in Bolivia