Abortion is a normal healthcare situation. That is why Abortion Pills in Private (APiP), an online provider of abortion pills, partnered with Aya Contigo to deliver a comprehensive approach for those seeking abortions in the challenging American context.
APiP is a coalition of dedicated Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) professionals who united in response to the fall of Roe v. Wade. Their team, rooted in a background of nonprofit SRH advocacy, service delivery and supply chain, proudly provides high-quality and reliable abortion pill services. They are committed to ensuring access to safe and informed choices for all individuals seeking reproductive health care.
Knowing that one in every four women will have an abortion in their lifetime, people must have access to abortion services, including support. “We are working with the model of accompaniment which has been used for decades by feminists from South America, Africa, etc. That is the heart and soul of Aya Contigo”, explained Roopan Gill, CEO of Vitala Global Foundation, who developed and launched the app Aya Contigo in Venezuela and the United States.
Donate here to directly support access to abortion in Venezuela and the US through the work of Aya Contigo
This partnership was born to tackle a gap between accessing the pills, getting to know how they work and having real people guiding you online through that process. “People need more than just the pills, they need navigational and emotional support throughout their process, which is why I think this partnership is so important”, added Roopan.
She highlighted that folks of the most underserved backgrounds are navigating complex scenarios and need to know how to access pills and how to take them safely. People who do not have English as their mother tongue, for example, can access Aya Contigo in Spanish and chat with Aya’s Spanish doulas.
Read – When laws kill: Josseli Barnica’s case highlights the need for abortion access
This approach allows users to take their power back, addressing their reproductive autonomy and fighting against the stigma surrounding abortion, said Roopan, emphasizing that anyone can self-manage their abortion in the privacy of their own home while talking with qualified doulas online, without facing someone in person.
Used-centered solutions
The APiP co-founder agreed about the need for support when providing abortion pills. “Even if somebody has just one question, there should be some kind of support. We also knew that there would be people wanting lots of support, people who really wanted hand-holding through the whole thing from start to finish and everything in between too. That was the service we wanted to provide so people can feel they have this safe space where they can ask these questions.”
And those conversations have been providing valuable feedback from users that can help develop stronger and tailored options, from faster delivery services for pills to acknowledging the value that Aya Contigo is not a bot, but a human-centered service operated by humans because people are looking for a trusted anonymous human connection.
“This is a beautiful pairing of two strengths coming together”, commented Roopan about the partnership. Adding that it makes sense to work alongside providers like APiP, especially with the rise of anti-abortion laws in the US.
Getting ready for increased demand in abortion care
APiP was established to serve as a crucial backup to the existing healthcare system, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their location, has access to essential reproductive health services. Their mission is to ensure no one is left without the care they need, no matter where they live.
“It is scary to think about the level of restriction that could come at a national level, depending on different ways this administration might go… We are trying to get ready for increased demand in the worst-case scenario”, said the APiP co-founder, who also was emphatic about the need for cooperation.
Read more – How abortion access is in jeopardy during Trump’s second term
“We are working on strengthening our site and service but also looking at how we can support others as well, so we have this capacity to deal with whatever gets thrown our way”, she detailed.
Roopan responded: “We are not going anywhere”. However, funding is needed to expand these services.
Currently, Vitala has an open campaign to support its operations while getting ready to address the expected increase in demand with the new US administration.
Spread the word and donate to keep these services alive
APiP reported that sales of pills skyrocketed after the US elections and many people are getting abortion pills and emergency contraception in advance, in response to the possibility of a total ban of pills by mail.
“After the election, a lot of people felt lost”, she said, “But there are some actions you can take, like spreading the word about these services. Also, you can donate. When you donate to Aya Contigo you are directly helping people.”
She remembered that it is important to do advocacy work with policymakers because maybe they are not well informed about how effective and safe the protocol of abortion with pills is.
People still have options
“People should know that they still have options”, Roopan said, noting that Aya Contigo was born in Venezuela, where abortion is illegal, there is a humanitarian crisis and a difficult government.
Despite these challenges, Aya Contigo has managed to have an impact, create a community, and extend its reach to over 10,000 users. You can get Aya Contigo’s full Impact Report here.
Aya’s model of care has been shown to be replicable in the US, reaching over 2500 after its first launch year in spite of the rising abortion bans.
“We need to think outside the box to make sure that comprehensive person-centered abortion services will always be available.”
The co-founder of APiP declared that people who may feel disappointed about the national election outcome need to stay involved. There were seven abortion ballot initiatives passed, which means changes can be made. “We need to vote pro-choice people at the state level, local level, and national level so eventually we get to the point where we have national protection.”
