The BMJ Annual Appeal 2023-24
The BMJ’s annual appeal this year is supporting ActionAid’s vital work with women and girls around the world.
Why ActionAid?
Everyone has the right to a life free from violence with access to safe healthcare. However, in times of humanitarian crisis, this right is often taken from women and girls.
Things like periods, childbirth and reproductive health do not stop during an emergency, but support surrounding them does. On top of that, gender-based violence typically increases in these situations and women and girls are left vulnerable.
That is why, when disaster happens, ActionAid does things differently.
As they are disproportionately impacted by emergencies, ActionAid ensures women and girls are the ones leading the humanitarian response. By shifting the power and working directly with women and girls, their specific health needs are less likely to be overlooked and the best decisions can be made on how to move forward.
Local women and girls will know better than anyone what their communities need during difficult times, so why not listen to them?
Nurse Margaret Kasolo, 57, gives a family planning injection to a client at Kawala Health Center IV in Kampala, Uganda. She has been a midwife for 35 years and has worked with Action Aid since 2013 as a Gender Based Violence focal person at the hospital. Photo: Esther Mbabazi/ActionAid
How will your donation help?
ActionAid works in just over 70 countries to ensure the rights of women and girls – including the right to healthcare – are upheld, and there are several ways your donation could help us carry out this important work.
Period kits
Your donation could go towards producing and distributing period dignity kits (containing sanitary pads, tampons, soap and underwear) for those without access to menstrual health products.
Hospitals
ActionAid has helped fund and build a number of hospitals, such as the Ain al-Bayda Hospital in Syria. The centre provides reproductive healthcare and childbirth services for women and girls who lost their homes in the earthquake earlier this year. Your donation could ensure more hospitals are built for those with limited access to medical professionals.
Campaign and support groups
Your money could also go towards funding more groups like COMBAT, set up by ActionAid in Ghana, who are working to end gender-based violence. They hold regular meetings, visit schools, run talks and provide training for local women and girls to help them claim their rights and access justice for the violence perpetrated against them.
When women and girls have access to safe healthcare and support around gender-based violence, they are in a better position to uplift their communities and build the future they want.
Women and girls deserve safe healthcare. Please donate now and help them receive it.
Page updated 14 November 2023
