Why contraception is essential health care in humanitarian crises (podcast)

Dr. Julia McDonald joins the Humanitarian Lens podcast to explain why contraception is not a political issue in humanitarian contexts, but a vital, lifesaving medical service.

Leila Rafei

April 23 2026, 9:00am

In this episode of the Humanitarian Lens , a podcast by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), host Chigo Ahunanya speaks with Dr. Julia McDonald, an MSF family medicine physician with experience in Ethiopia , Democratic Republic of Congo , Central African Republic , and Nigeria . Drawing on her field work, Dr. McDonald explains how MSF teams provide patient centered, trauma-informed contraception care in crisis settings.

The conversation explores barriers to access, common myths and misinformation, and how MSF prioritizes patient autonomy, confidentiality, and informed choice.…