Ipas WANTS FG TO RECOGNISE WOMEN SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AS ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE

…..Says 13% maternal deaths, caused by unsafe abortion

By AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja

Ipas Nigeria, yesterday joined Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights activists in Nigeria in calling on the government to recognise women’s sexual reproductive health as essential health care.

It said federal government must commit to its achievement through legislation and implementing policies that facilitate access to sexual and reproductive health services and information.

Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, in a statement signed by the Country Director, Lucky Palmer made the call to commemorate International Safe Abortion Day in Abuja.

The organisation said such recognition must include safe Abortion and post-abortion care services and repealing of harmful policies.

It said such recognition also, must address structural barriers embedded in social norms, laws, and policies that prevent individuals from realising their sexual and reproductive health and rights and exacerbate the multiple crises we are currently experiencing.

According to the statement, “abortion is Health Care and a Human rights issue, not a religious or moral subject.

“Nigeria’s government must recognise this and honours its international commitment to respect Human Rights”, it noted.

The Ipas boss, who said in the statement that 13% of maternal deaths in the country, is caused by unsafe abortion, noted that the International Safe Abortion Day is set to reach out to women who suffer unsafe abortion.

” International Safe Abortion Day. A day set aside to identify with millions of women worldwide who are experiencing torture through forced pregnancies or unsafe abortion because of denied access to safe Abortion.

“Today is celebrated worldwide by a wide range of women’s health and rights groups, health professionals, policymakers and parliamentarians committed to women’s health and wellbeing, working not only at the grassroots and national level in their countries but also at the regional and international levels.

“The theme for this year’s celebration, “Abortion in uncertain Times”, is a welcome development given the current humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and other parts of the world, resulting in the deterioration of health and social infrastructure. Unsafe Abortion is said to be one of the causes of maternal deaths worldwide.

“In Nigeria, Unsafe Abortions contribute 13% to the causes of Maternal Mortality. Nevertheless, Nigeria has a restrictive law that is often not understood by major stakeholders, as seen in the Lagos State Standards & Guidelines for Safe Terminating Pregnancies for Legal Indications, leading to the high maternal mortality we currently face in the country.

“Some countries, such as Ghana and Benin, have interpreted their existing laws to recognise the importance of safe abortion services for women’s health and wellbeing. For example, the Ministry of Health in Ghana made significant efforts to expand post-abortion care and the grounds for safe abortion services, including rape, incest, fetal abnormality, or disease, or to protect physical and mental health.

“Nigeria is a signatory to most international and regional frameworks such as CEDAW and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). These conventions and protocols guarantee the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of women and girls, but we have yet to domesticate and operationalise them.