Globally there is broad medical consensus that access to safe abortion and

reproductive care saves women's lives and nations around the world have

acknowledged this fact expanding access to

reproductive health services over the past three decades. Still in 2022 the

US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, taking away nearly 50 years of

constitutional protections for abortion care and making the United States

one of just four countries to roll back access to abortion.

And what the US does matters. This decision has and could continue to spark action

in other countries for both those that want to restrict abortion

care and those who want to protect it. My name is Gabriel Sierra and this is

why it matters. Today why abortion is a public health issue and how the United States is ruling could play out

globally. Public health

aims to promote and protect the health of all people and all communities,

even though abortion has been typically politicized, it's important to note that

abortion is basic health care and ties into bodily autonomy and thus public health.

This is Oneekepe Ole. bodily autonomy and thus public health.

This is O'Ekepe O'Labe.

She's a physician epidemiologist and the director of international research at the Guttmacher Institute,

a research and policy NGO, focused on reproductive health.

When you think of reproductive care, it's supposed to be care across the spectrum that

cater to all the needs of people and in this place.

And abortion is a complete health intervention.

...