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Misanet.com / WOZA, 18 May - US funding of South African family planning organisations can be expected to dry up in the near future, while in South Africa, between 2,500 and 3,000 abortions are performed every month and the health department is worried some facilities may not be able to cope, according to a report in the City Press newspaper. In a 218-210 vote on Thursday, the US House maintained the "Mexico City policy", which prevents the US from giving monetary aid to international groups that use their own funds to provide abortion counselling or services, the Washington Post reports. The local abortion figures relate only to abortions done at state hospitals and clinics, and exclude those done at private facilities like the Marie Stopes clinics, a major provider of abortions, and other private clinics. The latest official figures reveal a worrying trend - far more girls below the age of 18 are having legal abortions than women over 18. Figures provided by the department show that by the end of January this year a total of 155 624 abortions had been performed in state hospitals and clinics since the law legalising abortion came into effect in February 1997. Concern is now growing that the abortion figure could exceed 200 000 before the end of the year. Girls under 18 accounted for a figure of 80 873 abortions, more than half the total since abortion was legalised. The latest figures have once again divided those favouring abortion and those opposed to it. The health department said the figures were proof of their commitment to provide an abortion service to those who requested it within the time frame specified in the Act. More abortions were carried out in Gauteng (69 442) than in any other province since abortion was legalised. The Western Cape is second with 20 641 abortions. Within the first days of his administration, Bush reinstated the so-called global "gag order", which was implemented by former US President Ronald Reagan and lifted by former US President Bill Clinton. This may, in time, affect SA family planning programmes which depend on US funding. Opponents of the ban said that the policy "restricts free speech by limiting [overseas] family planning groups from even discussing abortion with clients", the New York Times reports. House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt said, "We're putting on a gag order that would not be allowed in our country. It's really a tragic day for democracy. It's not about abortion. It's about us imposing on others laws we wouldn't impose on ourselves". But proponents of the gag order say that the US is entitled to specify the terms of money it gives to international organisations. Although the vote represents a victory for the Bush administration, which had lobbied "aggressively" to defend the ban, the policy's "fate" is still in "doubt", the Post reports. The Senate, which has yet to consider the department budget bill, historically has opposed placing restrictions on such aid. By Marjolein Harvey, WOZA
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