Worrisome increasing rate of maternal-child mortality traceable to unsafe abortion

An increasing wave of maternal-child mortality traceable to an unsafe abortion is becoming a serious concern to the stakeholders especially in health sector, especially in view of the numbers of lives the nation is losing to the unwholesome actions of quack medical practitioners and the influence of certain religious leaders.

Also, the position of the laws of both the Federal Government and the respective states in the country on abortion could be another reason why some women and teenagers seek the services of unqualified medical practitioners which often results in complications and subsequently death.

In order to checkmate this development, as well sensitise the people on the position of the law on both legal and illegal abortion and necessary steps to be taken, the Creative Actors Initiative for Development recently organized a two-day advocacy workshop for health workers and law enforcement agents in Oyo State.

The participants were made to look at the critical areas that are responsible for unsafe abortion, as well proffering lasting solution to curb the trend.

Some of the pertinent questions raised at the workshop include: at what stage does abortion become a criminal offence? Is it legal for medical doctors to carry out abortion on ladies irrespective of their ages? What is the position of the various religions on abortion? What are the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on abortion?

Responses to these questions raised by the participants are germane in finding the lasting solution to unsafe abortion, as well changes in the perspective of the various leaders that see abortion as an unforgivable sin.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Health, who was represented at the occasion by Dr Obilade Adekunle in his presentation made known the position of the state law on Safe Abortion Care. Is it allowed, if yes to what extent?

It was submitted that people are still engaging in an unsafe abortion, hence the reason for the workshop to address the situation.

The unwholesome practice, according to him, has increased the numbers of death from its complication.

However, the question is, can abortion be carried out in a rightful places? What does the law say? The law of the Federation allows abortion to be carried out under certain circumstances which are not stated, but the law of Oyo State goes deeper by explaining in what circumstances can legal abortion done.

He said, “We have a restricted abortion law. Both the Federal and the state laws restrict abortion, but the restriction states that when the life of the mother is threatened or is in danger – that is the Federal law. But the state law goes further to spell out what those areas are. When can we say the life of a mother is in danger? What are other conditions that can allow abortion within the ambit of law?”

On the exact age group that abortion is allowed, he said, “The age does not matter. What is stated in the constitution is that if there is threat to the life of the woman or the girl. The age does not matter. What is taken into consideration before legal abortion can be offered is if there is threat to the life of the woman that will affect her physical or mental health.

“Also, when the woman is having congenital anomaly that will not make the baby to survive such pregnancy can be terminated.”

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On the efforts of the state government to checkmate unsafe pregnancy, he stated, “the government is offering its best, although, not many practitioners know about this law. That may be what is lacking, but the specialists are aware. They are the ones acting on behalf of the state government when there is need for that. These services are available in Government Hospital. The government has created a enabling environment for these services.”

Why the participants are mindful of the position of the law, they are of the opinion that government is not doing enough to checkmate the activities of the quack doctors.

The fear of the law especially the one that categorizes abortion as felony offence has made vulnerable ladies and women to seek services of the quacks masquerading as medical professionals.

Stiffer penalties were advocated to put an end to their services which has resulted in increasing Mother and Child Mortality rate.

One of the participants, a legal practitioner, made reference to one of the cases that she handled whereby a secondary school girl was impregnated by her own father.

Pressure was mounted on her to terminate the pregnancy noting its religious implication but the lady insisted that she could no longer bear the shame.

She insisted that the pregnancy must be terminated else she would commit suicide.

The participants submitted that this is one of the many cases attributable to the influence of the religious leaders in the country.

To them, abortion whether it is legally or illegally carried out is an unforgivable sin before God.

Their hard stance position on this matter have resulted to the death of not only ladies but married women as well.

The participants submitted that teenage pregnancy needs not to be encouraged but a situation whereby it poses danger to the health of its carrier, necessary steps need to be taken to save the life of the mother.

The government at all tiers needs to organise workshops for the religious leaders on safe and unsafe abortion in order to reduce increasing rate of mother and child mortality.