Delta to prosecute medical practitioners who carry out abortion for minors

The Delta state government Thursday said any medical practitioner who carried out illegal abortion or contraceptives to a minor will be prosecuted as there was no legal backing to such unholy act.

The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General (AG), Ohwovoriole Ekemejero (SAN) stated this  at the World Contraception Day held in Asaba, the state capital.

Ohwovoriole who was represented by the director, Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit, Mrs. Patricia Akanagwuna, said providing minor access to these facilities without the consent of the girl child’s parents or guardian is illegal in the eye of the law, and those involved must be punished accordingly.

He advised the medical practitioners to as principles, “allowed individual women to make informed choices about their reproductive health, free from coercion or judgment, in addition to protecting their right to confidentiality when seeking contraceptive services.

A Senior Lecturer, University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Project Director, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Dr. Jedidiah Sodje said currently Nigeria facing significant challenges in maternal and child health.

He said , “Statistics revealed that the country is having the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world, leading to the death of approximately 512 woman per 100,000 live births, and one in eight children does not reach their fifth birthday.”