The Country Director, Ipas Nigeria, a reproductive health rights NGO, Dr Lola Mabogunje, has said that unsafe abortion was the leading cause of maternal deaths, and, therefore, called on the federal government to domesticate all international conventions and policies which seek to promote women’s reproductive health and rights.
Speaking during a one-day stakeholders meeting in Abuja, Mabogunje said it was important for all women to have access to the highest attainable standards of health and safe reproductive health choices, including safe abortion practices.
She said 11 out of every woman that dies form pregnancy related issue was from unsafe abortion, saying that it was entirely preventable.
The country director said it was the organisation’s desire to see that all women had the opportunity to determine their futures, care for their families and manage their fertility.
She said: “No woman should risk her life, her fertility or wellbeing or the wellbeing of her family because she lacks reproductive health care.
“Death and injuries from unsafe abortion are especially heart breaking, since they are entirely preventable, yet too often, women still don’t have access and right to reproductive health services.”
Mabogunje said countries that had amended their laws on safe abortion practices had made significant improvement and reduction in maternal deaths.
She, however, called in government to amend such restrictive laws to help in reducing the number of women who die from unsafe abortion practices.
“In our country Nigeria, a raped victim has no right to safe abortion practices, according to the interpretation of the law, what does this translates to for the family and the girls.
“They may have to resort to services from quacks for unsafe abortion, which may destroy them for life, after all the trauma they have been through.”
The Director, primary healthcare Systems, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Nnenna Ihebuzor, commended Ipas on its collaboration in the agencies’ Midwives Service Scheme.
She said the partnership had gone a long way to reduce maternal deaths, especially in training of its midwives on post abortion care and practices.