Groups implore Sanwo-Olu to lift suspension on safe abortion

.Attributes 28% of maternal mortality to unsafe abortion

Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON), Lagos chapter, have called on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to lift suspension on safe termination of pregnancy.

The groups, which stated this, yesterday, during a webinar, maintained that the policy is critical to checking maternal deaths and avoidable deaths from pregnancies.

Founder of WARDC, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, noted that it is important that Sanwo-Olu lifts the ban as it would help to reduce cases of maternal deaths, adding that about 28 per cent of maternal deaths are linked to unsafe abortion.

She said that if a girl-child or a woman is raped or a victim of incest, her life is in danger as she might not get access to safe abortion.

This, she stated, does not give women choices about their health and bodies.

“There is an increase in the reported cases of rape and incest in Lagos State and across Nigeria. Many of these rape and incest cases result in pregnancies. With Nigeria’s restrictions on abortion, women and girls (minors) cannot access abortion services within the healthcare system. This situation leaves the rape and incest victims with no option but to resort to self-help and quack doctors, often leading to health complications and death.

Similarly, Secretary of SOGON, Lagos chapter, Dr Kehinde Okunade, corroborated Akiyode-Afolabi’s position on how unsafe abortion contributes to maternal mortality.