Rio de Janeiro Drops "Pill by Mail" Plan After Church TalkJanuary 22, 2004 Rio de Janeiro is scrapping a plan to mail free
contraceptives to women in poor neighborhoods. The city health
service will still give contraceptives and other medicines to
needy people at its offices, according to the health secretary,
who introduced the mailing plan. The proposed program would have
begun in February, but after consulting with Archbishop of Rio
Cardinal Eusebio Scheid, Mayor Cesar Maia ordered that the
mailing program be limited to patients with chronic illnesses. A
spokesperson for the mayor said there had been no pressure from
the church, which opposes contraception. Brazil is the largest
Roman Catholic country in the world.
Adapted from:Back to other news for January 22, 2004 Reuters 01.21.04 This article was provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.
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