By Brenda Zulu in Accra, Ghana
One in 13 women in the Democratic Republic of Congo dies in pregnancy or childbirth. Every half an hour a woman dies of a pregnancy related case in Congo.
Health problems related to pregnancies and childbirth remain the leading cause of ill health and death for women of childbearing age worldwide. This is even worse in countries which have undergone an emergency or crisis.
Addressing unsafe abortion in emergency situations at the ‘Keeping Our Promise’ conference in Accra, Ghana, “Dr Wilma Doedens, Technical Advisor, Humanitarian Response Branch, United Nations Fund for Population Activities defined emergency as “serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources,”
In an emergency situation however, Dr Doedens said, the risk of sexual violence may increase during social instability and that lack of family planning services may increase risks associated with unwanted pregnancy.
“Malnutrition and epidemics increase risks of pregnancy complications and often the lack of access to emergency obstetric care increases risk of maternal death,”said Dr Doedens.
Testimonies of women survivors of war, also attending the conference clearly outlined the status of post rape and reproductive health care in the Congo.
One woman simply called Cilcily explained “We have had war for many years and nothing has changed. We have nothing now, I have six children. It is hard to feed everyone. We have one meal per day and only my sons go to school since I do not have enough money to take the girls as well. I have heard that women can stop getting pregnant but I don’t know how and no one has told me how. I wish I could stop. I don’t want to be pregnant anymore.”
In an interview, Dr Baubacar Toure, Reproductive Health Advisor, International Rescue Committee, outlined challenges to quality reproductive and post rape health care in Congo.
He said that in Congo, the average age of bearing children was 15 years as many girls were married off at that age.
He explained that lack of medicines, supplies and equipment is a frequent barrier to the hospitals ability to provide services to pregnant women. Many hospitals cannot provide the medication and supplies necessary to provide the very basic obstetric services, such as antibiotics, syringes and long gloves needed for certain procedures.
Similarly, the ability of the Congolese health system to offer family planning services and prevent infections is limited by the lack of essential supplies at health and hospitals. Contraceptives are for instance offered only in a limited number of hospitals.
Due to the war, there is lack of staff in the health centres and hospitals to perform emergency obstetric care as many of the health staff fled for their lives. It is estimated that Congo lacks approximately 42 000 health professionals. According to the DRCs national protocol, a general referral hospital with 100 beds serving a population of 100 000 should have at least three doctors, anaesthetist and 16 nurses.
Some hospitals are staffed with as little as one doctor and fewer than five nurses. Health workers are often not paid for months and many rural health workers migrate to cities or go to work for international agencies to seek employment with a regular salary.
Another barrier to proper reproductive health care is lack of female health staff i rural areas. Traditionally, Congolese women do not discuss reproductive health issues with men, even less when it comes to post rape health care. The scarcity of female rape health care medical staff throughout Congo is therefore problematic.
Sexual assault affects the reproductive health of survivors and their families. Unwanted pregnancies, damage to reproductive organs, sexual transmittable diseases and HIV are possible consequences of rape and sexual assaults. Without treatment and support, such consequences might affect the entire families.
Another female participant at the ‘keeping our promise’ conference attested to this. She said, “One day, at the age of 19, I was in bed asleep when I heard guns. The rebels had entered the village. I was so afraid, and I run with no belongings only the cloths I was wearing. I had to sleep in the bush for three days and on the fourth day I was kidnapped by an armed soldier who threatened me with death. He took me far away to the bushes and he raped me. After some weeks I found I was pregnant. I felt so ashamed but I could not keep the baby. I went and had an abortion. It was so painful and I still think about it everyday.”
Health facilities are often the first point of contact for rape survivors The physical injuries from sexual assault are one of the main reason survivors seek help.
In addition to the lack of staff, little commitment to continuing professional development and in service training is evident in the public sector, unless specifically funded by an external donor. Lack of training on newer, safer procedures was also a major challenge.
As health care professional are not consistently trained in the clinical care of survivors of sexual assault, when survivors report to health centers they are often not offered quality life saving care because it is simply unavailable.
This is complicated by ineffective referral systems which are critical to the accessibility of proper health services. Major obstacles to proper referrals are access to ambulances and means of communicating with a hospital that may have one. Roads are also often impassable to four wheel vehicles during the rainy season.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Prof Sai celebrated
BY Rosemary Ardayfio
Prof. Fred T. Sai, the renowned reproductive rights advocate has been celebrated by delegates who attended the just ended “Keeping our promise” conference to address unsafe abortion in Africa for devoting his life towards championing the course of women’s reproductive health.
At a Gala dinner organised as part of the conference, speaker upon speaker extolled the leadership role Prof Sai had taken in the crusade to promote reproductive rights globally and particularly in Africa for many years.
At the event, a book written by Prof Sai’s book, “Heart and Voice”, which tells the story of his life and work was also unveiled.
In his remarks, Tewodros Melesse, Regional Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation, (IPPF) said Prof Sai many of those engaged in the movement to care and fight for women,s rights need to follow the example of Prof Sai.
“He has shown that we should not only expect others to care about us, we should care about ourselves” said Melesse.
He stated further that Prof. Sai has been more than an African, standing out as a global citizen with a caring voice.
Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, Ipas Vice President for Africa also described Prof Sai as a mentor, not only for her but for many who are now seen as leaders in the crusade for reproductive health.
She indicated that Prof Sai’s passion for the course he believed has infected many people and his contribution will be remembered for a long time.
Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, who is also a champion for reproductive rights described Prof. Sai as a Phenomenal human being.
“He started his crusade by promoting proper nutrition. He took that straight on and worked boldly in that area”, said Prof Akosa.
Prof Sai, he said, also worked hard n the area of population with the belief that if a population is not well managed the end result will be poverty.
Another speaker, Prof Andrew Arkutu, chairman of the National Population Council commeded Prof Sai for being “the guiding light of a movement started about 50 years ago.
Prof. Sai’s tireless efforts, he said, is a direct result of the gains achieved in the broad area of reproductive health.
In his response, Prof Sai thanked Ipas for encouraging him to write the book.
“Ipas has not ceased to recognise the work that I have done. It is an organisation that I have never worked for, so their interest is a genuine appreciation of my effort”, Prof Sai said.
He said his work will serve as footprints for dispirited social scientists and African politicians on the same courser who are despairing to pick up and move one.
Conference delegates who attended the event were all presented with copied of the book which Prof. Sai agreed to autograph in return for donation of any amount of money to be used towards supporting girls pursuing science at the university.
Prof. Fred T. Sai, the renowned reproductive rights advocate has been celebrated by delegates who attended the just ended “Keeping our promise” conference to address unsafe abortion in Africa for devoting his life towards championing the course of women’s reproductive health.
At a Gala dinner organised as part of the conference, speaker upon speaker extolled the leadership role Prof Sai had taken in the crusade to promote reproductive rights globally and particularly in Africa for many years.
At the event, a book written by Prof Sai’s book, “Heart and Voice”, which tells the story of his life and work was also unveiled.
In his remarks, Tewodros Melesse, Regional Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation, (IPPF) said Prof Sai many of those engaged in the movement to care and fight for women,s rights need to follow the example of Prof Sai.
“He has shown that we should not only expect others to care about us, we should care about ourselves” said Melesse.
He stated further that Prof. Sai has been more than an African, standing out as a global citizen with a caring voice.
Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, Ipas Vice President for Africa also described Prof Sai as a mentor, not only for her but for many who are now seen as leaders in the crusade for reproductive health.
She indicated that Prof Sai’s passion for the course he believed has infected many people and his contribution will be remembered for a long time.
Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, who is also a champion for reproductive rights described Prof. Sai as a Phenomenal human being.
“He started his crusade by promoting proper nutrition. He took that straight on and worked boldly in that area”, said Prof Akosa.
Prof Sai, he said, also worked hard n the area of population with the belief that if a population is not well managed the end result will be poverty.
Another speaker, Prof Andrew Arkutu, chairman of the National Population Council commeded Prof Sai for being “the guiding light of a movement started about 50 years ago.
Prof. Sai’s tireless efforts, he said, is a direct result of the gains achieved in the broad area of reproductive health.
In his response, Prof Sai thanked Ipas for encouraging him to write the book.
“Ipas has not ceased to recognise the work that I have done. It is an organisation that I have never worked for, so their interest is a genuine appreciation of my effort”, Prof Sai said.
He said his work will serve as footprints for dispirited social scientists and African politicians on the same courser who are despairing to pick up and move one.
Conference delegates who attended the event were all presented with copied of the book which Prof. Sai agreed to autograph in return for donation of any amount of money to be used towards supporting girls pursuing science at the university.
Monday, November 15, 2010
African Governments urged to give priority to health needs of women
African Governments have been urged to give priority to addressing the reproductive health issues of women to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) especially Goal five, which talks about “Improve Maternal Health”.
In addition, they should honour their commitments as stipulated in the Maputo Plan Protocol on the Rights of Women 2003, with special emphasis on increased access to safe abortion to sustain the life of every African woman.
The call was contained in a declaration issued at the end of the four-day conference of African Health Experts and Women’s Health Advocates on “Keeping Our Promise: Unsafe Abortion in Africa”.
Mrs Fannie Kachale, Deputy Director of Reproductive Health Unit, Ministry of Health, Malawi, who read the declaration, said African Governments should work to build a sustainable supply of medical technologies for contraception and safe abortion care.
“Women and girls are dying everyday in Africa through unsafe abortion and we have the knowledge, the will and the technologies to prevent these senseless deaths,” she added.
Governments, the declaration said, should initiate review of laws criminalizing abortion, in line with specific commitments under international and regional agreements, including specific and increased funding for reproductive health and measures to address unsafe abortion in national and health system budgets.
The delegates called on multilateral donor agencies as well as international technical support agencies to direct more resources to prevent unsafe abortion and make safe legal abortion available.
They should also provide policy and technical support for expanding women’s access to safe abortion care.
The delegates reaffirmed their commitment to providing leadership and accelerate action to expand African women’s access to safe abortion care and end needless deaths and injuries from unsafe abortion.
Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, addressing the closing session, called on governments to fulfill their political will expressed in addressing the health needs of women.
In addition, they should honour their commitments as stipulated in the Maputo Plan Protocol on the Rights of Women 2003, with special emphasis on increased access to safe abortion to sustain the life of every African woman.
The call was contained in a declaration issued at the end of the four-day conference of African Health Experts and Women’s Health Advocates on “Keeping Our Promise: Unsafe Abortion in Africa”.
Mrs Fannie Kachale, Deputy Director of Reproductive Health Unit, Ministry of Health, Malawi, who read the declaration, said African Governments should work to build a sustainable supply of medical technologies for contraception and safe abortion care.
“Women and girls are dying everyday in Africa through unsafe abortion and we have the knowledge, the will and the technologies to prevent these senseless deaths,” she added.
Governments, the declaration said, should initiate review of laws criminalizing abortion, in line with specific commitments under international and regional agreements, including specific and increased funding for reproductive health and measures to address unsafe abortion in national and health system budgets.
The delegates called on multilateral donor agencies as well as international technical support agencies to direct more resources to prevent unsafe abortion and make safe legal abortion available.
They should also provide policy and technical support for expanding women’s access to safe abortion care.
The delegates reaffirmed their commitment to providing leadership and accelerate action to expand African women’s access to safe abortion care and end needless deaths and injuries from unsafe abortion.
Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, addressing the closing session, called on governments to fulfill their political will expressed in addressing the health needs of women.
African health experts to discuss unsafe abortion
More than 250 health care providers, advocates, Parliamentarians, women’s groups, community members and allied agencies from across Africa are meeting in Accra, to share best practices and lessons and initiate an agenda for action.
The four-day conference would focus on unsafe abortion as a critical issue for reproductive health and rights in Africa, and for achieving the Millennium Development Goal Five, to reduce maternal mortality.
Opening the conference in Accra, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health, said no woman should die of unsafe abortion when there were legal abortion services available.
He said women needed to be given a voice and choices if really Africa needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo said women needed to be respected and the meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the progress made in addressing unsafe abortion.
IPAS, an International non-governmental organisation, the main sponsor of the conference, is collaboration with the Ministry of Health, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Women’s Development and Communication Network (better known as FEMNET), International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Regional Office and Marie Stopes International to organise the event.
It is under the theme “Keeping Our Promise: Addressing Unsafe Abortion in Africa”.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo noted that there were laws regarding abortion that needed to be enforced and said women should also be educated on the provision of safe abortion in certain instances.
He called for intensified training to ensure that doctors undertake quality abortion and expressed concern for the inadequate supply of contraceptives.
The Deputy Minister of Health condemned the stigmatisation of women who undertake abortion and said there should be more education on the matter.
He said “no woman wants abortion and if it requires that she does it, there is a law that backs that decision”.
More than half of the 67,500 global deaths related to unsafe abortion, occur in Africa and more than half of the women who die from unsafe abortion in Africa are younger than 25 years.
Of the five million women globally who are hospitalised with complications from unsafe abortion every year, more than one million are from Africa.
Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah, IPAS Vice President for Africa, said “We have made great achievements towards saving women’s lives in the past several years and we must strive to reform archaic laws. We must trust women to make their own reproductive choices for themselves, their families and their communities.”
She explained that while celebrating new data indicating that globally maternal mortality was at last falling, little progress had occurred on the African continent.
Dr Brookman-Amissah said: “Obtaining real political commitment to address unsafe abortion remains very hard but this needs to happen if we are to eliminate this totally preventable cause of maternal deaths in our countries.
“When leaders fail to implement known, affordable solutions to this entirely preventable problem, we can only conclude that they do not sufficiently value the women and girls whose lives are at stake”.
The IPAS Vice President said for the achievement of MDG5 and to protect African women and girls, it was essential that “we take the next step in effectively addressing unsafe abortion, including improving women’s access to safe abortion. And the time for that is NOW --before many more women die”.
Dr Brookman-Amissah called for strategies to overcome the iniquities and inequities that were restrictive to abortion laws and take the moral decision to no longer deny women access to services that we had the knowledge and the technologies to provide.
Dr Richard Turkson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, noted that the stigma surrounding abortion was still very strong but no longer absolute and there was the need now to say the word “abortion” in many settings where it previously was unthinkable.
Women’s right to sexual and reproductive health, including the right to safe legally-permitted abortion, he said was a basic human right that should be enjoyed by all women and like every human right, this should translate into the necessary social, economic and cultural conditions and facilities under which their legitimate aspirations and dignity might be fully realized.
The agenda of the conference would include; a review of regional and national progress in addressing unsafe abortion, lessons from research and experience that could improve safe abortion care, post abortion care and related reproductive health care, such as preventing unwanted pregnancy, discussion of an agenda for action for the African region and ways to improve collaboration among governments, NGOs and other stakeholders.
The four-day conference would focus on unsafe abortion as a critical issue for reproductive health and rights in Africa, and for achieving the Millennium Development Goal Five, to reduce maternal mortality.
Opening the conference in Accra, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health, said no woman should die of unsafe abortion when there were legal abortion services available.
He said women needed to be given a voice and choices if really Africa needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo said women needed to be respected and the meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the progress made in addressing unsafe abortion.
IPAS, an International non-governmental organisation, the main sponsor of the conference, is collaboration with the Ministry of Health, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Women’s Development and Communication Network (better known as FEMNET), International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Regional Office and Marie Stopes International to organise the event.
It is under the theme “Keeping Our Promise: Addressing Unsafe Abortion in Africa”.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo noted that there were laws regarding abortion that needed to be enforced and said women should also be educated on the provision of safe abortion in certain instances.
He called for intensified training to ensure that doctors undertake quality abortion and expressed concern for the inadequate supply of contraceptives.
The Deputy Minister of Health condemned the stigmatisation of women who undertake abortion and said there should be more education on the matter.
He said “no woman wants abortion and if it requires that she does it, there is a law that backs that decision”.
More than half of the 67,500 global deaths related to unsafe abortion, occur in Africa and more than half of the women who die from unsafe abortion in Africa are younger than 25 years.
Of the five million women globally who are hospitalised with complications from unsafe abortion every year, more than one million are from Africa.
Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah, IPAS Vice President for Africa, said “We have made great achievements towards saving women’s lives in the past several years and we must strive to reform archaic laws. We must trust women to make their own reproductive choices for themselves, their families and their communities.”
She explained that while celebrating new data indicating that globally maternal mortality was at last falling, little progress had occurred on the African continent.
Dr Brookman-Amissah said: “Obtaining real political commitment to address unsafe abortion remains very hard but this needs to happen if we are to eliminate this totally preventable cause of maternal deaths in our countries.
“When leaders fail to implement known, affordable solutions to this entirely preventable problem, we can only conclude that they do not sufficiently value the women and girls whose lives are at stake”.
The IPAS Vice President said for the achievement of MDG5 and to protect African women and girls, it was essential that “we take the next step in effectively addressing unsafe abortion, including improving women’s access to safe abortion. And the time for that is NOW --before many more women die”.
Dr Brookman-Amissah called for strategies to overcome the iniquities and inequities that were restrictive to abortion laws and take the moral decision to no longer deny women access to services that we had the knowledge and the technologies to provide.
Dr Richard Turkson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, noted that the stigma surrounding abortion was still very strong but no longer absolute and there was the need now to say the word “abortion” in many settings where it previously was unthinkable.
Women’s right to sexual and reproductive health, including the right to safe legally-permitted abortion, he said was a basic human right that should be enjoyed by all women and like every human right, this should translate into the necessary social, economic and cultural conditions and facilities under which their legitimate aspirations and dignity might be fully realized.
The agenda of the conference would include; a review of regional and national progress in addressing unsafe abortion, lessons from research and experience that could improve safe abortion care, post abortion care and related reproductive health care, such as preventing unwanted pregnancy, discussion of an agenda for action for the African region and ways to improve collaboration among governments, NGOs and other stakeholders.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
African health experts to discuss unsafe abortion
African health experts to discuss unsafe abortion
More than 250 health care providers, advocates, Parliamentarians, women's groups, community members and allied agencies from across Africa are meeting in Accra, to share best practices and lessons and initiate an agenda for action.
The four-day conference would focus on unsafe abortion as a critical issue for reproductive health and rights in Africa, and for achieving the Millennium Development Goal Five, to reduce maternal mortality.
Opening the conference in Accra, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health, said no woman should die of unsafe abortion when there were legal abortion services available.
He said women needed to be given a voice and choices if really Africa needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo said women needed to be respected and the meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the progress made in addressing unsafe abortion.
IPAS, an International non-governmental organisation, the main sponsor of the conference, is collaboration with the Ministry of Health, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Women's Development and Communication Network (better known as FEMNET), International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Regional Office and Marie Stopes International to organise the event.
It is under the theme "Keeping Our Promise: Addressing Unsafe Abortion in Africa".
Mr Mettle-Nunoo noted that there were laws regarding abortion that needed to be enforced and said women should also be educated on the provision of safe abortion in certain instances.
He called for intensified training to ensure that doctors undertake quality abortion and expressed concern for the inadequate supply of contraceptives.
The Deputy Minister of Health condemned the stigmatisation of women who undertake abortion and said there should be more education on the matter.
He said "no woman wants abortion and if it requires that she does it, there is a law that backs that decision".
More than half of the 67,500 global deaths related to unsafe abortion, occur in Africa and more than half of the women who die from unsafe abortion in Africa are younger than 25 years.
Of the five million women globally who are hospitalised with complications from unsafe abortion every year, more than one million are from Africa.
Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah, IPAS Vice President for Africa, said "We have made great achievements towards saving women's lives in the past several years and we must strive to reform archaic laws. We must trust women to make their own reproductive choices for themselves, their families and their communities."
She explained that while celebrating new data indicating that globally maternal mortality was at last falling, little progress had occurred on the African continent.
Dr Brookman-Amissah said: "Obtaining real political commitment to address unsafe abortion remains very hard but this needs to happen if we are to eliminate this totally preventable cause of maternal deaths in our countries.
"When leaders fail to implement known, affordable solutions to this entirely preventable problem, we can only conclude that they do not sufficiently value the women and girls whose lives are at stake".
The IPAS Vice President said for the achievement of MDG5 and to protect African women and girls, it was essential that "we take the next step in effectively addressing unsafe abortion, including improving women's access to safe abortion. And the time for that is NOW --before many more women die".
Dr Brookman-Amissah called for strategies to overcome the iniquities and inequities that were restrictive to abortion laws and take the moral decision to no longer deny women access to services that we had the knowledge and the technologies to provide.
Dr Richard Turkson, Ghana's High Commissioner to Canada, noted that the stigma surrounding abortion was still very strong but no longer absolute and there was the need now to say the word "abortion" in many settings where it previously was unthinkable.
Women's right to sexual and reproductive health, including the right to safe legally-permitted abortion, he said was a basic human right that should be enjoyed by all women and like every human right, this should translate into the necessary social, economic and cultural conditions and facilities under which their legitimate aspirations and dignity might be fully realised.
The agenda of the conference would include; a review of regional and national progress in addressing unsafe abortion, lessons from research and experience that could improve safe abortion care, post abortion care and related reproductive health care, such as preventing unwanted pregnancy, discussion of an agenda for action for the African region and ways to improve collaboration among governments, NGOs and other stakeholders.
GNA
Unsafe Abortion: A Concern for African Youth
Unsafe Abortion: A Concern for African Youth
This is the second in a series of articles from Keeping Our Promise: Addressing Unsafe Abortion in Africa this week. The conference has brought together more than 250 health providers, advocates, policy makers and youth participants for a discussion of how to reduce the impact of unsafe abortion in Africa.
She walks mumbling inaudible words to herself on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria. Passersby take her for a mental case. But they are wrong. Ejieke (not real name) has just lost her daughter to complications from an unsafe abortion. But she is not willing to talk about the tragedy publicly. Reason? Abortion is a criminal offence in the country whose current laws are a replica of the old British colonial rules.
A friend reveals that Ejieke visited a traditional healer who devised an unsafe method to extract the foetus from her daughter’s womb. In the end, the abortion went bad and the girl bled to death.
Patrick Ezie, a medical student at the Imo state University in Nigeria says abortion has claimed many women’s lives in Nigeria, especially in the Islam-dominated northern part of the country. On average, he says the maternal mortality rate is over 800 deaths per 100,000 births although the figures go up to over 1,000 deaths in the north where the practice of the Sharia law is very strict.
“Unlike other countries where abortion can be allowed when a woman’s life is in danger, we do not have any law providing for abortion in Nigeria. What we have is a Criminal Act where anyone found procuring abortion, selling abortion-inducing drugs, or discussing how abortion can be procured is arrested,” Ezie says.
Ezie is one of about 25 African youth participants attending a regional conference on unsafe abortion in Accra, Ghana. The particular impact of unsafe abortion on youth is a theme running throughout the conference, called Keeping Our Promise: Addressing Unsafe Abortion in Africa. Young people in Africa are disproportionately affected by unsafe abortion. In Nigeria, it is estimated that 80% of women who seek treatment for complications of unsafe abortion are under the age of 25.
In a region with restrictive abortion laws and low contraceptive prevalence broadly, young women face significant barriers to preventing unwanted pregnancy and to safe abortion care. Young people lack access to comprehensive sexual health information and may be unable negotiate safer sex; they may also be denied access to reproductive health services themselves – Innocent Kommwa, 31, of the Pakachere Institute of Health and Development Communication reports that in many locations, married women receive preferential treatment at health centers.
Ezie has started a campaign to sensitise the masses about safe abortion, starting with university students. He has so far visited the 30 medical schools in Nigeria, together with Ipas, an international NGO advocate for women’s health rights. He has also held four demonstrations in Ghana to project the plight of unsafe abortion in Nigeria.
Most African countries share similar experiences with regards to abortion care. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, Ipas Vice President for Africa reveals that access to contraceptives is one of the issues that can stop unsafe abortion. But, she adds, the average contraceptive intake in Africa is still low at 15% compared to countries like Thailand where it is at over 70%. She adds that more than half of the 65,500 global deaths from unsafe abortion occur in Africa. “More than half of those who die from unsafe abortion in Africa are younger than 25 years.”
Queen Masaka Mbao, a programme officer for Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia says abortion is regarded as a taboo in her country and that once a woman has aborted, they are regarded as social outcasts. “A victim of abortion is isolated and they are not allowed to prepare food for the family because it is culturally believed that such a person is unclean and once they put salt in food and people eat, they can develop prolonged cough.”
Mbao’s colleague, Vivien Bwembya, a programme assistant for young women in action in Zambia says there is too much stigma against women who have had abortions and ignorance about the practice, yet there is a Pregnancy Termination of Act of 1972 which provides for abortion in a number of circumstances. “Many people including doctors and politicians are ignorant about this law,” she says. There is a significant impediment, however: a woman seeking an abortion has to be approved by at least three medical doctors. This, Bwembya notes, has resulted in unsafe abortions and deaths of young women. “Some professional practitioners now carry out abortion stealthily for fear of being arrested because securing the three signatures is not an easy task.”
Even obtaining the needed signatures brings its own challenges, she says. “Some doctors want to be tipped to sign for victims.”
Gustav Quayson, a communications and advocacy officer with Ghana’s Health Foundation, says much as Ghana’s abortion law is liberal and adequatelyflexible to respond to the needs of women, too many people are ignorant about the law and many still use crude methods to abort. Quayson is of the view that addressing sex education among youths would help to sensitise the young people about safe abortion.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
BREAK THE SILENCE ON UNSAFE ABORTION – PRESIDENT MILLS
By James Addy
President J. E. Mills, has urged African governments to join the crusade to break the culture of silence on unsafe abortions on the continent.
He made this appeal in an address read for him at a three-day international conference on unsafe abortion in Africa held in Accra this week.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Robert-Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, the Deputy Minister of Health, President Mills said, “I happily join the crusade in keeping the promise. It is time to break the culture of silence on unsafe abortions in Africa women have a choice. They need to know their rights.”
“Keeping our promise: Addressing unsafe abortion in Africa” and sponsored by Women’s Health International Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) Ipas in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Health, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Women’s Development and Communication Network the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa and Marie Slopes International.
It was attended by about 250 participants including health care providers’ advocates, parliamentarians, women groups who shared best practices and also lessons learned in the course of their activities.
Dr Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Director, African Centre for Gender and Social Development, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in a keynote address said the Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved without a specific focus on eliminating unsafe abortion from the continent. She said “maternal mortality and morbidity not only affects women, it affects their families, our communities and our countries.”
Dr Ruzvidzo said nonetheless the causes of maternal complications and deaths, including unsafe abortion, are preventable only if gender concerns are put at the front of the line.
She said combating discrimination against women and girls is therefore critical to eliminate preventable maternal morbidity and mortality.
Dr Ruzvidzo said unsafe abortion is frequently the only recourse young, poor, uneducated and rural women have to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
“They take place in situations characterized by inadequate provider skills, the use of hazardous techniques and in unsanitary facilities, and endanger the lives of thousands of African women”, she said.
Dr Ruzvidzo said 67,000 women die annually globally as a result of complications of unsafe abortion.
Additionally between two million and seven million women each year survive unsafe abortions but sustain long-term damage or disease.
Dr Ruzvidzo said more than half of the deaths from unsafe abortion an estimated 35,000 occur in Africa, adding that the WHO estimates that in Africa, one in seven maternal deaths result from unsafe abortion.
Dr Ruzvidzo observed:” that so many women resort to unsafe abortion reveals how women on our continent do not enjoy the basic freedoms and rights to which all human beings are entitled, thus limiting their full potential for development.”
Dr Ruzvidzo said each year an estimated 14 million women in Africa experience unintended pregnancy which reflects the persistent, unacceptably high unmet need for contraception.
“As many as a quarter of all African women who want to practice family planning lack information or effective contraceptive methods they need to do so,” she said.
Dr Ruzvidzo said although there had been progress in addressing that gap in recent years and decades, more in some countries than others, the unmet need for contraception remains a gross in justice for women in the region.
Dr Elizabeth Maguire, the president of Ipas said an integrated approach to contraception and safe abortion is critical to solving the global public health crisis caused by unwanted pregnancies.
She called on African governments to strengthen and expand efforts in both public and private sectors to end unwanted pregnancy to enable women to exercise fully their sexual and reproduction
President J. E. Mills, has urged African governments to join the crusade to break the culture of silence on unsafe abortions on the continent.
He made this appeal in an address read for him at a three-day international conference on unsafe abortion in Africa held in Accra this week.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Robert-Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, the Deputy Minister of Health, President Mills said, “I happily join the crusade in keeping the promise. It is time to break the culture of silence on unsafe abortions in Africa women have a choice. They need to know their rights.”
“Keeping our promise: Addressing unsafe abortion in Africa” and sponsored by Women’s Health International Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) Ipas in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Health, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Women’s Development and Communication Network the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa and Marie Slopes International.
It was attended by about 250 participants including health care providers’ advocates, parliamentarians, women groups who shared best practices and also lessons learned in the course of their activities.
Dr Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Director, African Centre for Gender and Social Development, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in a keynote address said the Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved without a specific focus on eliminating unsafe abortion from the continent. She said “maternal mortality and morbidity not only affects women, it affects their families, our communities and our countries.”
Dr Ruzvidzo said nonetheless the causes of maternal complications and deaths, including unsafe abortion, are preventable only if gender concerns are put at the front of the line.
She said combating discrimination against women and girls is therefore critical to eliminate preventable maternal morbidity and mortality.
Dr Ruzvidzo said unsafe abortion is frequently the only recourse young, poor, uneducated and rural women have to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
“They take place in situations characterized by inadequate provider skills, the use of hazardous techniques and in unsanitary facilities, and endanger the lives of thousands of African women”, she said.
Dr Ruzvidzo said 67,000 women die annually globally as a result of complications of unsafe abortion.
Additionally between two million and seven million women each year survive unsafe abortions but sustain long-term damage or disease.
Dr Ruzvidzo said more than half of the deaths from unsafe abortion an estimated 35,000 occur in Africa, adding that the WHO estimates that in Africa, one in seven maternal deaths result from unsafe abortion.
Dr Ruzvidzo observed:” that so many women resort to unsafe abortion reveals how women on our continent do not enjoy the basic freedoms and rights to which all human beings are entitled, thus limiting their full potential for development.”
Dr Ruzvidzo said each year an estimated 14 million women in Africa experience unintended pregnancy which reflects the persistent, unacceptably high unmet need for contraception.
“As many as a quarter of all African women who want to practice family planning lack information or effective contraceptive methods they need to do so,” she said.
Dr Ruzvidzo said although there had been progress in addressing that gap in recent years and decades, more in some countries than others, the unmet need for contraception remains a gross in justice for women in the region.
Dr Elizabeth Maguire, the president of Ipas said an integrated approach to contraception and safe abortion is critical to solving the global public health crisis caused by unwanted pregnancies.
She called on African governments to strengthen and expand efforts in both public and private sectors to end unwanted pregnancy to enable women to exercise fully their sexual and reproduction
Mortalité maternelle en Afrique : Croisade contre les avortements à risque
Par Issa NIANG
Plus de la moitié des 67 500 décès qui surviennent chaque année suite à un avortement à risque, se produisent en Afrique. Plus de la moitié des femmes qui meurent des suites d’un avortement à risque en Afrique sont âgées de moins de 25 ans, selon l’Organisation mondiale de la santé. Sur les cinq millions de femmes qui sont hospitalisées chaque année dans le monde à cause des complications d’un avortement à risque, plus d’un million vivent en Afrique. Suffisant pour que les acteurs de la santé de la reproduction se mobilisent à Accra.
(Envoyé spécial à Accra) - ‘Personne n’aime les avortements. Même les victimes elles-mêmes. C’est pourquoi il faut mettre fin à la souffrance des femmes en Afrique, en adoptant une résolution qui les aidera à faire face à la mortalité causée par les avortements à risque’. Ouvrant lundi dernier, au nom de son président John Atta Mills de la République du Ghana, la conférence régionale sur les avortements à risque, Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, Vice-ministre de la Santé du Ghana, tire la sonnette et appelle à une forte mobilisation contre les avortements à risques.
En Afrique, les avortements à risque sont considérés comme un pan important de la mortalité maternelle. Ce problème touche de manière disproportionnée les femmes africaines. En effet, les statistiques révèlent que plus de la moitié des 67 500 décès qui surviennent chaque année suite à un avortement à risque se produisent en Afrique. Et plus de la moitié des femmes qui meurent des suites d’un avortement à risque en Afrique sont âgées de moins de 25 ans, selon l’Organisation mondiale de la santé. Sur les cinq millions de femmes qui sont hospitalisées chaque année dans le monde à cause des complications d’un avortement à risque, plus d’un million vivent en Afrique. Un tableau sombre obligeant les acteurs de la santé de reproduction à mettre les bouchées doubles. ‘Tenir nos promesses : faire face aux avortements à risque en Afrique’, tel est le thème de la conférence internationale ouverte Accra, au Ghana, du 8 au 11 novembre 2010, dans les locaux du Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. Cette rencontre sera consacrée aux avortements à risque en tant que problème essentiel pour la santé de la reproduction et les droits génésiques en Afrique. L’une de ses principales missions sera d’atteindre le cinquième Objectif du millénaire pour le développement qui vise à réduire la mortalité maternelle de trois quart d’ici 2015.
A Accra, cent cinquante prestataires de services de soins de santé, défenseurs des droits, parlementaires, associations féminines, représentants des communautés et organismes collaborateurs en provenance d’horizons divers se réuniront afin de mettre en commun les pratiques d’excellence et leçons acquises. A l’issue de cette rencontre, les participants vont élaborer un agenda des actions à entreprendre pour faire face à ce fléau que constituent les avortements à risque. Cette rencontre insistera sur la prise de conscience croissante et les actions visant à résoudre le problème des avortements à risque en Afrique, un problème qui revêt une importance considérable. En somme, éliminer les avortements à risque en Afrique est un impératif pour réaliser les objectifs du Plan d’action de Maputo (Plan d’action de l’Union africaine pour la santé et les droits sexuels et génésiques), ainsi que les Objectifs du millénaire pour le développement et les autres engagements internationaux et régionaux. Cette conférence régionale soutiendra l’élan nécessaire pour atteindre ces objectifs.
Présidente de l’Ipas, une Ong internationale œuvrant dans la santé maternelle et les droits des femmes, Elisabeth Maguire trouve inacceptable qu’une femme puisse mourir par manque de services adéquats de santé pour la prendre en charge. Chargé des questions de financement au niveau de la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Afrique, le Dr Aïssatou Guèye pose, quant à elle, la problématique de l'égalité des sexes et l'émancipation des femmes. De son avis, ils constituent des objectifs de développement à part entière et une condition clef du développement durable, tout particulièrement en Afrique.
Au Sénégal, les avortements à risque constituent un problème de santé publique. Ils représentent 4 à 5 % de la mortalité maternelle, selon la Division de la santé de la reproduction (Dsr). Cette mortalité maternelle se situe à 401 décès pour 100 000 naissances vivantes.
Plus de la moitié des 67 500 décès qui surviennent chaque année suite à un avortement à risque, se produisent en Afrique. Plus de la moitié des femmes qui meurent des suites d’un avortement à risque en Afrique sont âgées de moins de 25 ans, selon l’Organisation mondiale de la santé. Sur les cinq millions de femmes qui sont hospitalisées chaque année dans le monde à cause des complications d’un avortement à risque, plus d’un million vivent en Afrique. Suffisant pour que les acteurs de la santé de la reproduction se mobilisent à Accra.
(Envoyé spécial à Accra) - ‘Personne n’aime les avortements. Même les victimes elles-mêmes. C’est pourquoi il faut mettre fin à la souffrance des femmes en Afrique, en adoptant une résolution qui les aidera à faire face à la mortalité causée par les avortements à risque’. Ouvrant lundi dernier, au nom de son président John Atta Mills de la République du Ghana, la conférence régionale sur les avortements à risque, Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, Vice-ministre de la Santé du Ghana, tire la sonnette et appelle à une forte mobilisation contre les avortements à risques.
En Afrique, les avortements à risque sont considérés comme un pan important de la mortalité maternelle. Ce problème touche de manière disproportionnée les femmes africaines. En effet, les statistiques révèlent que plus de la moitié des 67 500 décès qui surviennent chaque année suite à un avortement à risque se produisent en Afrique. Et plus de la moitié des femmes qui meurent des suites d’un avortement à risque en Afrique sont âgées de moins de 25 ans, selon l’Organisation mondiale de la santé. Sur les cinq millions de femmes qui sont hospitalisées chaque année dans le monde à cause des complications d’un avortement à risque, plus d’un million vivent en Afrique. Un tableau sombre obligeant les acteurs de la santé de reproduction à mettre les bouchées doubles. ‘Tenir nos promesses : faire face aux avortements à risque en Afrique’, tel est le thème de la conférence internationale ouverte Accra, au Ghana, du 8 au 11 novembre 2010, dans les locaux du Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. Cette rencontre sera consacrée aux avortements à risque en tant que problème essentiel pour la santé de la reproduction et les droits génésiques en Afrique. L’une de ses principales missions sera d’atteindre le cinquième Objectif du millénaire pour le développement qui vise à réduire la mortalité maternelle de trois quart d’ici 2015.
A Accra, cent cinquante prestataires de services de soins de santé, défenseurs des droits, parlementaires, associations féminines, représentants des communautés et organismes collaborateurs en provenance d’horizons divers se réuniront afin de mettre en commun les pratiques d’excellence et leçons acquises. A l’issue de cette rencontre, les participants vont élaborer un agenda des actions à entreprendre pour faire face à ce fléau que constituent les avortements à risque. Cette rencontre insistera sur la prise de conscience croissante et les actions visant à résoudre le problème des avortements à risque en Afrique, un problème qui revêt une importance considérable. En somme, éliminer les avortements à risque en Afrique est un impératif pour réaliser les objectifs du Plan d’action de Maputo (Plan d’action de l’Union africaine pour la santé et les droits sexuels et génésiques), ainsi que les Objectifs du millénaire pour le développement et les autres engagements internationaux et régionaux. Cette conférence régionale soutiendra l’élan nécessaire pour atteindre ces objectifs.
Présidente de l’Ipas, une Ong internationale œuvrant dans la santé maternelle et les droits des femmes, Elisabeth Maguire trouve inacceptable qu’une femme puisse mourir par manque de services adéquats de santé pour la prendre en charge. Chargé des questions de financement au niveau de la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Afrique, le Dr Aïssatou Guèye pose, quant à elle, la problématique de l'égalité des sexes et l'émancipation des femmes. De son avis, ils constituent des objectifs de développement à part entière et une condition clef du développement durable, tout particulièrement en Afrique.
Au Sénégal, les avortements à risque constituent un problème de santé publique. Ils représentent 4 à 5 % de la mortalité maternelle, selon la Division de la santé de la reproduction (Dsr). Cette mortalité maternelle se situe à 401 décès pour 100 000 naissances vivantes.
Révisions des lois sur l’avortement : Les chefs d’Etat africains invités à respecter leurs engagements
Par Issa NIANG
‘Nous avons entendu trop de promesse, ça suffit, il est tant de passer à l’action’ s’est exclamée Roselynn Musa, directrice de l’information du Réseau des femmes africaines pour le développement et la communication (Femnet), dans le grand amphithéâtre du Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. C’est presque un sentiment de rébellion qui s’est emparé des participants à cette conférence sur les avortements à risque en Afrique qui se tient à Accra du 8 au 11 novembre 2010.
Les différents communicateurs qui se sont succédé à la tribune, lors de cette rencontre d’Accra, ont été unanimes à reconnaître que les conférences, les déclarations et les promesses se multiplient pour ne rien changer au niveau de la santé reproductive des femmes. En d’autres termes, les Etats ne respectent pas leurs engagements. Le problème des avortements à risque en Afrique, lui, est d’autant plus compliqué à résoudre que les gouvernants ne veulent offenser personne. Le scénario est fort simple : ils se contentent de signer les conventions et protocoles et puis après, silence radio. Et quand le Commissaire national des droits de l’homme du Kenya, Winnie Luchiana, a dressé ce bilan sombre sur la mise en œuvre des engagements que prennent les chefs d’Etat dans les pays africains, tout le monde a opiné dans l’assistance.
En effet, à Maputo, dans la capitale mozambicaine, les chefs d’Etat africains avaient, en 2006, pris l’engagement, dans le cadre d’un plan d’action, de prendre des mesures en vue d’améliorer la santé de la reproduction des femmes africaines. Ce plan de Maputo visait à éliminer toutes formes de discrimination à l’endroit des femmes. Dans les chapitres qui évoquent les droits des femmes à la santé, on pouvait noter que celles-ci ont le droit de décider du nombre d’enfants qu’elles voudraient avoir. D’où la nécessité pour la majeure partie des pays africains de réviser les lois sur l’avortement, héritées de l’époque coloniale. Jusque-là des pays comme le Ghana qui abrite cette conférence sur les avortements à risque et la Zambie disposent d’une loi qui autorise l’avortement médicalisé.
La société civile, quant à elle, a sa responsabilité dans la lutte contre les lois restrictives qui empêchent les femmes de jouir de leur droit à l’accès à l’avortement sécurisé. Elle devrait passer au-devant de la scène pour inciter les populations à revendiquer leur droit.
‘Nous avons entendu trop de promesse, ça suffit, il est tant de passer à l’action’ s’est exclamée Roselynn Musa, directrice de l’information du Réseau des femmes africaines pour le développement et la communication (Femnet), dans le grand amphithéâtre du Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. C’est presque un sentiment de rébellion qui s’est emparé des participants à cette conférence sur les avortements à risque en Afrique qui se tient à Accra du 8 au 11 novembre 2010.
Les différents communicateurs qui se sont succédé à la tribune, lors de cette rencontre d’Accra, ont été unanimes à reconnaître que les conférences, les déclarations et les promesses se multiplient pour ne rien changer au niveau de la santé reproductive des femmes. En d’autres termes, les Etats ne respectent pas leurs engagements. Le problème des avortements à risque en Afrique, lui, est d’autant plus compliqué à résoudre que les gouvernants ne veulent offenser personne. Le scénario est fort simple : ils se contentent de signer les conventions et protocoles et puis après, silence radio. Et quand le Commissaire national des droits de l’homme du Kenya, Winnie Luchiana, a dressé ce bilan sombre sur la mise en œuvre des engagements que prennent les chefs d’Etat dans les pays africains, tout le monde a opiné dans l’assistance.
En effet, à Maputo, dans la capitale mozambicaine, les chefs d’Etat africains avaient, en 2006, pris l’engagement, dans le cadre d’un plan d’action, de prendre des mesures en vue d’améliorer la santé de la reproduction des femmes africaines. Ce plan de Maputo visait à éliminer toutes formes de discrimination à l’endroit des femmes. Dans les chapitres qui évoquent les droits des femmes à la santé, on pouvait noter que celles-ci ont le droit de décider du nombre d’enfants qu’elles voudraient avoir. D’où la nécessité pour la majeure partie des pays africains de réviser les lois sur l’avortement, héritées de l’époque coloniale. Jusque-là des pays comme le Ghana qui abrite cette conférence sur les avortements à risque et la Zambie disposent d’une loi qui autorise l’avortement médicalisé.
La société civile, quant à elle, a sa responsabilité dans la lutte contre les lois restrictives qui empêchent les femmes de jouir de leur droit à l’accès à l’avortement sécurisé. Elle devrait passer au-devant de la scène pour inciter les populations à revendiquer leur droit.
Breaking the silence on unsafe abortion
Forum addresses broken promises on women’s reproductive health
A landmark four-day conference opened in Ghana this week on the much-neglected issue of unsafe abortion in relation to the health of African women. Health experts, policymakers and practitioners from around Africa focused on the Conference’s theme: “Keeping our Promise: Addressing unsafe abortion in Africa”, which is now recognized as a critical issue for reproductive health and rights in Africa.
Ms. Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Director of the African Center for Gender and Social Development at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) says that the Regional Conference has opened up a much-needed debate and is recommending policy options on an issue that is often taboo.
“An estimated 36,000 young adults of school going age die needlessly of unsafe abortion in Africa,” she says adding that: “on the African continent, the debate needs to address legalizing abortion and making it a safe practice; this must go hand in hand with prevention against unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection, which is also a result of unprotected sex.”
The Conference acknowledges that many commitments have been made regarding women’s health, maternal mortality and addressing unsafe abortion, but strategies for meeting these unfulfilled promises are needed.
Ms. Ruzvidzo points out that the conference is building on growing concerns that the alarming maternal mortality is failing African women. “Five months ago, at the highest leadership level, the African Heads of State Summit in Kampala in July 2010 had as its theme, Maternal, infant and child health,” She says, and adds that commitments are needed at all levels to safeguard the reproductive health and rights of women to reverse the needless deaths of many young women.
“Roughly 5.5 million unsafe abortions are performed annually in Africa and the deaths from unsafe abortion account for approximately 14 percent of all maternal deaths in the region,” quotes Ms. Ruzvidzo from World Health Organization (WHO) data.
For her part, Ms. Aissatou Gueye, from ECA’s Economic Development and NEPAD Division told the forum that unsafe abortion is the only recourse many women have to control their fertility preferences, which results in high morbidity and mortality, and is a clear violation of their human rights.
“Existing international and regional agreements on women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights must be honored to improve maternal mortality and reduce the incidence of unsafe abortion,” she said.
The Conference was organized by Ipas, a global nongovernmental organization dedicated to ending preventable deaths and disabilities from unsafe abortion in conjunction with the ECA, African Network for Medical Abortion (ANMA), FEMNET (the African Women’s Development and Communication Network), the Ghana Ministry of Health, International Planned Parenthood Foundation Africa Regional Office and Marie Stopes International.
A landmark four-day conference opened in Ghana this week on the much-neglected issue of unsafe abortion in relation to the health of African women. Health experts, policymakers and practitioners from around Africa focused on the Conference’s theme: “Keeping our Promise: Addressing unsafe abortion in Africa”, which is now recognized as a critical issue for reproductive health and rights in Africa.
Ms. Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Director of the African Center for Gender and Social Development at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) says that the Regional Conference has opened up a much-needed debate and is recommending policy options on an issue that is often taboo.
“An estimated 36,000 young adults of school going age die needlessly of unsafe abortion in Africa,” she says adding that: “on the African continent, the debate needs to address legalizing abortion and making it a safe practice; this must go hand in hand with prevention against unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection, which is also a result of unprotected sex.”
The Conference acknowledges that many commitments have been made regarding women’s health, maternal mortality and addressing unsafe abortion, but strategies for meeting these unfulfilled promises are needed.
Ms. Ruzvidzo points out that the conference is building on growing concerns that the alarming maternal mortality is failing African women. “Five months ago, at the highest leadership level, the African Heads of State Summit in Kampala in July 2010 had as its theme, Maternal, infant and child health,” She says, and adds that commitments are needed at all levels to safeguard the reproductive health and rights of women to reverse the needless deaths of many young women.
“Roughly 5.5 million unsafe abortions are performed annually in Africa and the deaths from unsafe abortion account for approximately 14 percent of all maternal deaths in the region,” quotes Ms. Ruzvidzo from World Health Organization (WHO) data.
For her part, Ms. Aissatou Gueye, from ECA’s Economic Development and NEPAD Division told the forum that unsafe abortion is the only recourse many women have to control their fertility preferences, which results in high morbidity and mortality, and is a clear violation of their human rights.
“Existing international and regional agreements on women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights must be honored to improve maternal mortality and reduce the incidence of unsafe abortion,” she said.
The Conference was organized by Ipas, a global nongovernmental organization dedicated to ending preventable deaths and disabilities from unsafe abortion in conjunction with the ECA, African Network for Medical Abortion (ANMA), FEMNET (the African Women’s Development and Communication Network), the Ghana Ministry of Health, International Planned Parenthood Foundation Africa Regional Office and Marie Stopes International.
YOUTH SHARING EXPERIENCES
By Wendy Asiama
Unsafe abortion has become a major public health concern for some governments, civil society groups, among some parents, and the youth generally in Africa.
Draconian laws that seek to criminalize illegal abortion and restrictive policies on the statute books in the majority of African countries provide fertile grounds for young people (girls and young women to procure abortion when faced with unwanted pregnancy.
Notwithstanding these restrictive laws, young women faced with the dilemma of unwanted pregnancy will often go all lengths to procure abortion regardless of whether the procedure is safe or not.
These sentiments were expressed at an international conference on unsafe abortion whose theme is ‘’KEEPING OUR PROMISE: addressing unsafe abortion in Africa “, held in Ghana.
Conference participants attributed abortion deaths, which go to swell maternal deaths in Africa, to the use of unorthodox procedures which result in complications leading to death of their victims.
Sharing their experiences and their dreams for the future, Blain Rezene from Ipas Ethiopia stated that since 2008, Ipas has established three youth centers at universities in the country that provide information to the youth on how they can access contraceptives, condoms and abortion services when confronted with unwanted pregnancy.
‘’We provide education counseling services and general information on their reproductive health needs’’.
Thomas Munjovo from South Africa adds that due to interventions put in by the South African government and in collaboration with civil society groups on issues of unsafe abortion, maternal deaths have been reduced by 91% since 2008.
‘’Because South Africa has very liberal laws on abortion, young women faced with challenges of unwanted pregnancies and needing abortion services , get the needed information at the right time and are told where they can access health care services including abortion. ‘’Thomas stated ‘’.
Maxwell Ogwal, a medical student from Uganda told forum participants that abortion is still illegal in Uganda. ‘’Government lacks the political will to change the laws on abortion irrespective of the uncountable lives that are lost through illegal abortion in Uganda’’. In summary the youth urged their governments to act now to bring abortion to the forefront of Africa’s women’s health agenda.
‘’Keeping our promise ‘’therefore is a call for action from mothers who loose their female children to unsafe abortion, from girls and young women in Africa who are the victims and on their governments to act to effect change in their lives.
Unsafe abortion has become a major public health concern for some governments, civil society groups, among some parents, and the youth generally in Africa.
Draconian laws that seek to criminalize illegal abortion and restrictive policies on the statute books in the majority of African countries provide fertile grounds for young people (girls and young women to procure abortion when faced with unwanted pregnancy.
Notwithstanding these restrictive laws, young women faced with the dilemma of unwanted pregnancy will often go all lengths to procure abortion regardless of whether the procedure is safe or not.
These sentiments were expressed at an international conference on unsafe abortion whose theme is ‘’KEEPING OUR PROMISE: addressing unsafe abortion in Africa “, held in Ghana.
Conference participants attributed abortion deaths, which go to swell maternal deaths in Africa, to the use of unorthodox procedures which result in complications leading to death of their victims.
Sharing their experiences and their dreams for the future, Blain Rezene from Ipas Ethiopia stated that since 2008, Ipas has established three youth centers at universities in the country that provide information to the youth on how they can access contraceptives, condoms and abortion services when confronted with unwanted pregnancy.
‘’We provide education counseling services and general information on their reproductive health needs’’.
Thomas Munjovo from South Africa adds that due to interventions put in by the South African government and in collaboration with civil society groups on issues of unsafe abortion, maternal deaths have been reduced by 91% since 2008.
‘’Because South Africa has very liberal laws on abortion, young women faced with challenges of unwanted pregnancies and needing abortion services , get the needed information at the right time and are told where they can access health care services including abortion. ‘’Thomas stated ‘’.
Maxwell Ogwal, a medical student from Uganda told forum participants that abortion is still illegal in Uganda. ‘’Government lacks the political will to change the laws on abortion irrespective of the uncountable lives that are lost through illegal abortion in Uganda’’. In summary the youth urged their governments to act now to bring abortion to the forefront of Africa’s women’s health agenda.
‘’Keeping our promise ‘’therefore is a call for action from mothers who loose their female children to unsafe abortion, from girls and young women in Africa who are the victims and on their governments to act to effect change in their lives.
Ugandan student stuns abortion conference in Accra
By Chris Kiwawulo in Accra
A Ugandan medical student on Tuesday stunned participants of the conference on eliminating abortion in Africa when he revealed that he was ready to go to jail for the cause of ensuring that girls who get unwanted pregnancies secure safe abortion in Uganda.
Maxwell Ogwal, a student at Gulu University, said he was once arrested for helping a young girl abort. “I helped a girl who had been stopped from sitting her exams at a school in northern Uganda to secure an abortion. Thereafter, Police called me to make a statement and I was detained. Although I got out on bond, I still have a case to answer.”
But Ogwal stressed that he was not about to abandon the struggle to ensure that young women access safe abortion because he believes it is a woman’s right to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy. “I am willing to face any challenge in the pursuit of legalisation of abortion and ensuring safe abortion in Uganda,” Ogwal told the over 50 participants in a session on ‘Unsafe abortion and young women – their experiences, their dreams’, where he was a presenter’.
The evening session was running during the one-week conference themed; ‘Keeping our promise: Addressing unsafe abortion in Africa’, taking place at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra, Ghana. Ogwal, who said he was forced to study medicine because he saw people suffering as a social worker in the north, urged the Ugandan Government to make abortion legal by removing restrictions and ensure that services are easily accessible because it is senseless to legalise abortion without service providers. He said he has already drafted a petition seeking the legalisation of abortion that he will submit to parliament next year after making the necessary consultations.
“Uganda can borrow a leaf from countries like South Africa on how they managed to legalise abortion in their countries. Otherwise, we are losing a lot of people out there who would have been useful to our society due to unsafe abortion yet with safe abortion, they would not have died,” Ogwal pointed out during a session chaired by Bene Mandunagu, from the Girl Power Initiative, a girl-child empowering organisation from Nigeria.
Ogwal said many young women got unwanted pregnancies during the over 20-year-old LRA insurgency but ended up dying because medical services were inaccessible. “Because people from different parts were staying together in internally displaced persons’ camps, young women would get impregnated by men. Some would be raped by rebels and they get unwanted pregnancies. They would then use herbs, sticks and other crude methods to abort. In the process, they would end up dying,” Ogwal told participants who were dead silent.
Ogwal’s co-presenter Thomas Munjovo, a peer educator from South Africa called on African leaders to emulate the South African example, arguing that maternal deaths had reduced a great deal since abortion was legalized in his country. “We are now trying to ensure that women, especially in rural areas get information about the availability of safe abortion. Our only challenge is that the services are not enough for all the people.”
Another presenter, Blain Rezene, a youth consultant from Ethiopia noted that abortion remains silent in many African countries and urged community-based organizations to sensitise the masses about the issue. She specifically called for initiation of a youth dialogue arguing that; “some male youths believe when a girl says no to sex, she means yes. This needs to be addressed because it also leads to unwanted pregnancies.”
A Ugandan medical student on Tuesday stunned participants of the conference on eliminating abortion in Africa when he revealed that he was ready to go to jail for the cause of ensuring that girls who get unwanted pregnancies secure safe abortion in Uganda.
Maxwell Ogwal, a student at Gulu University, said he was once arrested for helping a young girl abort. “I helped a girl who had been stopped from sitting her exams at a school in northern Uganda to secure an abortion. Thereafter, Police called me to make a statement and I was detained. Although I got out on bond, I still have a case to answer.”
But Ogwal stressed that he was not about to abandon the struggle to ensure that young women access safe abortion because he believes it is a woman’s right to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy. “I am willing to face any challenge in the pursuit of legalisation of abortion and ensuring safe abortion in Uganda,” Ogwal told the over 50 participants in a session on ‘Unsafe abortion and young women – their experiences, their dreams’, where he was a presenter’.
The evening session was running during the one-week conference themed; ‘Keeping our promise: Addressing unsafe abortion in Africa’, taking place at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra, Ghana. Ogwal, who said he was forced to study medicine because he saw people suffering as a social worker in the north, urged the Ugandan Government to make abortion legal by removing restrictions and ensure that services are easily accessible because it is senseless to legalise abortion without service providers. He said he has already drafted a petition seeking the legalisation of abortion that he will submit to parliament next year after making the necessary consultations.
“Uganda can borrow a leaf from countries like South Africa on how they managed to legalise abortion in their countries. Otherwise, we are losing a lot of people out there who would have been useful to our society due to unsafe abortion yet with safe abortion, they would not have died,” Ogwal pointed out during a session chaired by Bene Mandunagu, from the Girl Power Initiative, a girl-child empowering organisation from Nigeria.
Ogwal said many young women got unwanted pregnancies during the over 20-year-old LRA insurgency but ended up dying because medical services were inaccessible. “Because people from different parts were staying together in internally displaced persons’ camps, young women would get impregnated by men. Some would be raped by rebels and they get unwanted pregnancies. They would then use herbs, sticks and other crude methods to abort. In the process, they would end up dying,” Ogwal told participants who were dead silent.
Ogwal’s co-presenter Thomas Munjovo, a peer educator from South Africa called on African leaders to emulate the South African example, arguing that maternal deaths had reduced a great deal since abortion was legalized in his country. “We are now trying to ensure that women, especially in rural areas get information about the availability of safe abortion. Our only challenge is that the services are not enough for all the people.”
Another presenter, Blain Rezene, a youth consultant from Ethiopia noted that abortion remains silent in many African countries and urged community-based organizations to sensitise the masses about the issue. She specifically called for initiation of a youth dialogue arguing that; “some male youths believe when a girl says no to sex, she means yes. This needs to be addressed because it also leads to unwanted pregnancies.”
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Embrace safe abortion to eliminate maternal deaths – WHO
By Chris Kiwawulo in Accra
AFRICAN countries need to embrace safe abortion if they are to eliminate maternal deaths and injuries that arise from unsafe abortions, a World Health Organization (WHO) official has advised.
Dr. Charles Fleischer Djoleto, the WHO office focal point officer for Ghana, noted that 13% of the global maternal were due to unsafe abortion, meaning that about 130 women die every day from unsafe abortion of which 99% (129) live in developing countries like Uganda. He said WHO supports the move to legalise abortion in Africa, noting that unsafe abortions mostly take place where the practice is illegal.
Speaking at the opening of the regional conference on eliminating abortion in Africa on Monday (November 8), Djoleto said a critical component of eliminating unsafe abortion is preventing unintended pregnancies, using contraceptives. The one-week conference themed; ‘Keeping our promise: Addressing unsafe abortion in Africa’, is taking place at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra.
“If contraceptive needs were fully met globally, unsafe abortions would decline by 73% from 20 million to 5.5 million per year and the number of women requiring treatment for abortion complications would decline from 8.5 million to 2 million annually. Can you imagine the impact that would have on African women’s lives and the lives of their families?” Djoleto wondered.
Ipas, a global women’s rights advocacy NGO, in collaboration with African Network on Medical Abortion, African Women’s Development and Communication Network, Maries topes International, the International Planned parenthood Federation, Ghana’s health ministry and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa organised the conference.
Much as use of contraceptives reduces unsafe abortions and thus deaths, Djoleto revealed that legalising safe abortion is paramount. Quoting a 2009 WHO report dubbed ‘Women Health: Today’s evidence, tomorrow’s agenda’, Djoleto said women who seek an abortion will do so regardless of legal restrictions and that where restrictions are few, deaths and illnesses dramatically reduce.
“Even if contraceptive needs are fully met, an estimated 33 million women are expected to experience accidental pregnancy while using contraception and thus the need for safe abortion,” he pointed out. Djoleto said WHO does not tell countries what to do regarding their national laws and policies, but it provides evidence that they can use to make their own decisions about health.
Ipas president and chief executive officer, Elizabeth Maguire, noted that efforts to address women’s unmet need for contraception and to prevent unsafe abortion were still implemented separately in many African health systems. “Yet we know from experience that an integrated approach to contraception and safe abortion is critical to solving the global public health crisis caused by unwanted pregnancies…and to meeting both the International Conference on Population and Development agreed action and Millennium Development Goals.”
Maguire added that access to basic health services is essential in ensuring each woman’s basic human right to decide whether and when to have children. In Uganda, statistics show, the unmet need for family planning is still high at 41%. In Ghana, one in every three women have an unmet need for family planning. On the entire African continent, the average contraceptive intake is still low at 15% compared to countries like Thailand where it is at over 70%.
Maguire called for active participation of the civil society and public sector in order to extend the availability of comprehensive abortion and contraception to surface the voices and needs of women, inform them and mobilize action.
The Ghanaian President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, pledged that his country will support the elimination of unsafe abortion and urged other African leaders to follow suit. In a speech read for him by Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Ghana’s health deputy minister, Mills said; “Nobody like abortion, certainly not the victims! But we all have a common ground of preventing hardship, illness and deaths.”
Mills noted that whereas abortion has been legal in Ghana since 1985, religious and moral inclinations against abortion result into some uneasiness among service providers who face a dilemma between preserving these values and saving women’s lives.
“There is a wide spectrum of interventions which can involve everyone – from religious leaders, civil society, traditional leaders, legal system and law enforcement agencies, health system, education system, youth, men, women, individuals and groups from all walks of life can play key roles in addressing these issues from various angles.”
The conference brought together over 200 participants from over 20 African countries who converged to develop strategies for the future of women in ensuring their access to safe abortion. All participants agreed that unsafe abortion was largely responsible for the high number of maternal deaths in their countries and called upon their leaders to legalise the practice.
AFRICAN countries need to embrace safe abortion if they are to eliminate maternal deaths and injuries that arise from unsafe abortions, a World Health Organization (WHO) official has advised.
Dr. Charles Fleischer Djoleto, the WHO office focal point officer for Ghana, noted that 13% of the global maternal were due to unsafe abortion, meaning that about 130 women die every day from unsafe abortion of which 99% (129) live in developing countries like Uganda. He said WHO supports the move to legalise abortion in Africa, noting that unsafe abortions mostly take place where the practice is illegal.
Speaking at the opening of the regional conference on eliminating abortion in Africa on Monday (November 8), Djoleto said a critical component of eliminating unsafe abortion is preventing unintended pregnancies, using contraceptives. The one-week conference themed; ‘Keeping our promise: Addressing unsafe abortion in Africa’, is taking place at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra.
“If contraceptive needs were fully met globally, unsafe abortions would decline by 73% from 20 million to 5.5 million per year and the number of women requiring treatment for abortion complications would decline from 8.5 million to 2 million annually. Can you imagine the impact that would have on African women’s lives and the lives of their families?” Djoleto wondered.
Ipas, a global women’s rights advocacy NGO, in collaboration with African Network on Medical Abortion, African Women’s Development and Communication Network, Maries topes International, the International Planned parenthood Federation, Ghana’s health ministry and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa organised the conference.
Much as use of contraceptives reduces unsafe abortions and thus deaths, Djoleto revealed that legalising safe abortion is paramount. Quoting a 2009 WHO report dubbed ‘Women Health: Today’s evidence, tomorrow’s agenda’, Djoleto said women who seek an abortion will do so regardless of legal restrictions and that where restrictions are few, deaths and illnesses dramatically reduce.
“Even if contraceptive needs are fully met, an estimated 33 million women are expected to experience accidental pregnancy while using contraception and thus the need for safe abortion,” he pointed out. Djoleto said WHO does not tell countries what to do regarding their national laws and policies, but it provides evidence that they can use to make their own decisions about health.
Ipas president and chief executive officer, Elizabeth Maguire, noted that efforts to address women’s unmet need for contraception and to prevent unsafe abortion were still implemented separately in many African health systems. “Yet we know from experience that an integrated approach to contraception and safe abortion is critical to solving the global public health crisis caused by unwanted pregnancies…and to meeting both the International Conference on Population and Development agreed action and Millennium Development Goals.”
Maguire added that access to basic health services is essential in ensuring each woman’s basic human right to decide whether and when to have children. In Uganda, statistics show, the unmet need for family planning is still high at 41%. In Ghana, one in every three women have an unmet need for family planning. On the entire African continent, the average contraceptive intake is still low at 15% compared to countries like Thailand where it is at over 70%.
Maguire called for active participation of the civil society and public sector in order to extend the availability of comprehensive abortion and contraception to surface the voices and needs of women, inform them and mobilize action.
The Ghanaian President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, pledged that his country will support the elimination of unsafe abortion and urged other African leaders to follow suit. In a speech read for him by Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Ghana’s health deputy minister, Mills said; “Nobody like abortion, certainly not the victims! But we all have a common ground of preventing hardship, illness and deaths.”
Mills noted that whereas abortion has been legal in Ghana since 1985, religious and moral inclinations against abortion result into some uneasiness among service providers who face a dilemma between preserving these values and saving women’s lives.
“There is a wide spectrum of interventions which can involve everyone – from religious leaders, civil society, traditional leaders, legal system and law enforcement agencies, health system, education system, youth, men, women, individuals and groups from all walks of life can play key roles in addressing these issues from various angles.”
The conference brought together over 200 participants from over 20 African countries who converged to develop strategies for the future of women in ensuring their access to safe abortion. All participants agreed that unsafe abortion was largely responsible for the high number of maternal deaths in their countries and called upon their leaders to legalise the practice.
Keeping Our Promise: Addressing Unsafe Abortion in Africa Conference Opens in Accra, Ghana
By Rosemary Ardayfio
The issue of how to stop deaths due to unsafe abortion in Africa is the centre of discussions at a four day International conference which opened in Accra yesterday.
The conference, dubbed ‘Keeping Our Promise: Addressing Unsafe Abortion in Africa” is focusing on unsafe abortion as a critical issue for reproductive health and rights in Africa and for achieving the Millennium Development Goal Five to reduce maternal mortality.
Over 250 health experts, policymakers, and practitioners from around the African region have gathered to share best practices and lessons learnt and shape an agenda for action.
The international NGO, IPAS is sponsoring the conference in collaboration with the Ghana Ministry of Health, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Africa Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Regional Office and Marie Stopes International.
Opening the conference on behalf of President John Evans Atta Mills, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Robert Joseph Mettle Nunoo said “It is indeed the time to break the culture of silence on unsafe abortions in Africa. Women have a choice, they have a need, they need to know their rights.”
He said, “If Africa should meet the MDGs, we must give African women voices, choices and support to improve maternal health and eliminate avoidable maternal deaths’.
Touching on what Ghana had achieved in the area of reducing unsafe abortion, Mr. Mettle-Nunoo said Ghana is fortunate to have a law with enough flexibility that can be made responsive to most women’s needs.
Furthermore, he said, the country has national standards and guidelines that clearly states who can provide services, where they can be provided, and eliminate administrative barriers that make access to care difficult.
Inspite of these gains, he noted, there are still the challenges of stigma associated with abortion care among the public and inadequate knowledge of the law.
Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, Ipas Vice president for Africa said the conference was the third in a series of conferences that Ipas has convened with its partners in Africa on the theme of unsafe abortion, adding that these meetings have helped spur momentum for addressing unsafe abortion in Africa, including new commitments at the highest levels.
In addition, she said, many national governments are taking unsafe abortion more seriously and several countries, including Ghana, have applied an approach pioneered by the World Health Organization to study unwanted pregnancy and abortion.
Some countries have further developed national standards and guidelines for abortion care, while in both the public and private sectors, there has been more training for diverse cadres of health care workers, including nurses and midwives, in post abortion and safe abortion care.
Dr Brookman-Amissah noted that in some countries, governments and donors are taking steps to ensure that technologies and supplies for safe abortion are approved and available, so that, finally, African women can benefit from them.
She stressed the importance of real political commitment to address unsafe abortion remains very hard but this needs to happen if we are to eliminate this totally preventable cause of maternal deaths in our countries.
In her address, Elizabeth Maguire, President and CEO, IPAS said the conference will focus on the promises that have been made to African women and girls in support of their health and rights.
These promises are embodied in dozens of international agreements, in national laws and policies, and in mission statements of non-governmental organizations, she added.
Noting that efforts to address women’s unmet need for contraception and to prevent unsafe abortion are still implemented separately in many health systems, Maguire said experience has shown that an integrated approach to contraception and safe abortion is critical to solving the global public health crisis caused by unwanted pregnancies.
She advocated for active participation of civil society, in collaboration with the public sector, which she indicated is “essential to extend the availability of comprehensive abortion care and contraception, to surface the voices and needs of women, to inform women and communities, and to mobilise action.”
She pledged that the momentum coming out of this conference would be maintained and built upon and called on participants not to waver in their determination to do what it takes to eliminate once and for all the needless deaths and injuries from unsafe abortion.
The conference Chair, Dr. Richard B. Turkson, Ghana’s Ambassador to Canada, said though there has been notable progress in addressing unsafe abortion in the last 16 years, the promises that African and global leaders made to Africa women since the International Conference on population and Development in Cairo have not been fully kept.
The issue of how to stop deaths due to unsafe abortion in Africa is the centre of discussions at a four day International conference which opened in Accra yesterday.
The conference, dubbed ‘Keeping Our Promise: Addressing Unsafe Abortion in Africa” is focusing on unsafe abortion as a critical issue for reproductive health and rights in Africa and for achieving the Millennium Development Goal Five to reduce maternal mortality.
Over 250 health experts, policymakers, and practitioners from around the African region have gathered to share best practices and lessons learnt and shape an agenda for action.
The international NGO, IPAS is sponsoring the conference in collaboration with the Ghana Ministry of Health, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Africa Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Regional Office and Marie Stopes International.
Opening the conference on behalf of President John Evans Atta Mills, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Robert Joseph Mettle Nunoo said “It is indeed the time to break the culture of silence on unsafe abortions in Africa. Women have a choice, they have a need, they need to know their rights.”
He said, “If Africa should meet the MDGs, we must give African women voices, choices and support to improve maternal health and eliminate avoidable maternal deaths’.
Touching on what Ghana had achieved in the area of reducing unsafe abortion, Mr. Mettle-Nunoo said Ghana is fortunate to have a law with enough flexibility that can be made responsive to most women’s needs.
Furthermore, he said, the country has national standards and guidelines that clearly states who can provide services, where they can be provided, and eliminate administrative barriers that make access to care difficult.
Inspite of these gains, he noted, there are still the challenges of stigma associated with abortion care among the public and inadequate knowledge of the law.
Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, Ipas Vice president for Africa said the conference was the third in a series of conferences that Ipas has convened with its partners in Africa on the theme of unsafe abortion, adding that these meetings have helped spur momentum for addressing unsafe abortion in Africa, including new commitments at the highest levels.
In addition, she said, many national governments are taking unsafe abortion more seriously and several countries, including Ghana, have applied an approach pioneered by the World Health Organization to study unwanted pregnancy and abortion.
Some countries have further developed national standards and guidelines for abortion care, while in both the public and private sectors, there has been more training for diverse cadres of health care workers, including nurses and midwives, in post abortion and safe abortion care.
Dr Brookman-Amissah noted that in some countries, governments and donors are taking steps to ensure that technologies and supplies for safe abortion are approved and available, so that, finally, African women can benefit from them.
She stressed the importance of real political commitment to address unsafe abortion remains very hard but this needs to happen if we are to eliminate this totally preventable cause of maternal deaths in our countries.
In her address, Elizabeth Maguire, President and CEO, IPAS said the conference will focus on the promises that have been made to African women and girls in support of their health and rights.
These promises are embodied in dozens of international agreements, in national laws and policies, and in mission statements of non-governmental organizations, she added.
Noting that efforts to address women’s unmet need for contraception and to prevent unsafe abortion are still implemented separately in many health systems, Maguire said experience has shown that an integrated approach to contraception and safe abortion is critical to solving the global public health crisis caused by unwanted pregnancies.
She advocated for active participation of civil society, in collaboration with the public sector, which she indicated is “essential to extend the availability of comprehensive abortion care and contraception, to surface the voices and needs of women, to inform women and communities, and to mobilise action.”
She pledged that the momentum coming out of this conference would be maintained and built upon and called on participants not to waver in their determination to do what it takes to eliminate once and for all the needless deaths and injuries from unsafe abortion.
The conference Chair, Dr. Richard B. Turkson, Ghana’s Ambassador to Canada, said though there has been notable progress in addressing unsafe abortion in the last 16 years, the promises that African and global leaders made to Africa women since the International Conference on population and Development in Cairo have not been fully kept.
Santé de la reproduction au Sénégal : Les avortements à risque représentent 4 à 5 % de la mortalité maternelle
http://www.walf.sn/societe/suite.php?rub=4&id_art=68659
Par Issa Niang
Les avortements à risque sont très répandus au Sénégal. Aucune localité n’est épargnée. Mais le phénomène prend une certaine ampleur dans les zones de forte migration comme Louga, Kaolack, Touba, le Fouta
On semble le perdre de vue, mais les avortements à risque constituent un sujet de préoccupation majeure au Sénégal. En effet, selon la Division de la santé de la reproduction, ils représentent 4 à 5 % de la mortalité maternelle. Et selon la dernière Enquête démographique de santé IV de 2005, celle-ci se situe à 401 décès pour 100 000 naissances vivantes. A la Division de la santé de la reproduction (Dsr) où nous nous sommes rendus en prélude à la Conférence d’Accra sur les avortements à risque, la sage-femme Seyni Konté Diop estime que ces chiffres sont largement sous-estimés du fait que cette pratique n’est pas autorisée par la loi.
Un avortement à risque est un avortement effectué dans de mauvaises conditions, entraînant un danger réel sur la vie de la mère. Interdits par la loi, les avortements à risque sont souvent effectués par un personnel de santé non qualifié avec des outils, un environnement et un plateau technique non adéquats. Or, ces pratiques, souvent clandestines, nécessitent un matériel stérile et sans risque, qui ne met pas en danger la vie de la femme.
De nombreuses complications surviennent à l’issue des avortements à risque. Selon la coordonnatrice santé de la reproduction (Sr), Seyni Konté Diop, elles peuvent être multiples : hémorragies, stérilité, ablation de l’utérus, septicémie, infections généralisées… A cela s’ajoutent les conséquences sociales. Celles-ci ont pour nom exclusion familiale, scolaire même si maintenant elle est temporaire, divorce…
Parmi les causes des avortements à risque, le refus de paternité, les grossesses non désirées, la promesse d’un emploi et le besoin de le conserver à tout prix, les études… Selon le Dsr, ce phénomène des avortements à risque est très répandu dans le pays. Aucune localité n’est épargnée. Mais l’ampleur du phénomène est plus importante dans les zones de forte migration comme Louga, Kaolack, Touba, le Fouta…
Au niveau de la Division de la santé de la reproduction, une politique de capacitation du personnel de santé sur les soins après avortement est menée. ‘Notre rôle n’est pas de faire la police, mais plutôt de soigner’, précise la sage-femme Seyni Konté Diop, déplorant le fait que les femmes arrivent tardivement dans les structures de santé pour se faire prendre en charge. Une fois dans la structure de santé, la femme est d’abord soumise à un traitement d’urgence. Ensuite, elle fait l’objet d’un councelling pré, per et post avortement. Un lien est établi avec la communauté pour éviter les retards lors des consultations.
Mais le plus important est de régler les besoins non satisfaits en matière de planification familiale. Ceux-ci tournent autour de 35 %. Face à ce gap, la Dsr envisage d’institutionnaliser une journée spécialement dédiée à la planification familiale. Elle entend également élargir la gamme de produits contraceptifs.
Quant à l’autorisation d’un avortement, elle relève d’un véritable parcours de combattant. Elle n’est accordée que si la vie de la femme enceinte est en danger. Mais pour cela, il faudra obtenir l’avis de trois experts différents en plus de l’autorisation du procureur de la République.
Walf Fadhri
Par Issa Niang
Les avortements à risque sont très répandus au Sénégal. Aucune localité n’est épargnée. Mais le phénomène prend une certaine ampleur dans les zones de forte migration comme Louga, Kaolack, Touba, le Fouta
On semble le perdre de vue, mais les avortements à risque constituent un sujet de préoccupation majeure au Sénégal. En effet, selon la Division de la santé de la reproduction, ils représentent 4 à 5 % de la mortalité maternelle. Et selon la dernière Enquête démographique de santé IV de 2005, celle-ci se situe à 401 décès pour 100 000 naissances vivantes. A la Division de la santé de la reproduction (Dsr) où nous nous sommes rendus en prélude à la Conférence d’Accra sur les avortements à risque, la sage-femme Seyni Konté Diop estime que ces chiffres sont largement sous-estimés du fait que cette pratique n’est pas autorisée par la loi.
Un avortement à risque est un avortement effectué dans de mauvaises conditions, entraînant un danger réel sur la vie de la mère. Interdits par la loi, les avortements à risque sont souvent effectués par un personnel de santé non qualifié avec des outils, un environnement et un plateau technique non adéquats. Or, ces pratiques, souvent clandestines, nécessitent un matériel stérile et sans risque, qui ne met pas en danger la vie de la femme.
De nombreuses complications surviennent à l’issue des avortements à risque. Selon la coordonnatrice santé de la reproduction (Sr), Seyni Konté Diop, elles peuvent être multiples : hémorragies, stérilité, ablation de l’utérus, septicémie, infections généralisées… A cela s’ajoutent les conséquences sociales. Celles-ci ont pour nom exclusion familiale, scolaire même si maintenant elle est temporaire, divorce…
Parmi les causes des avortements à risque, le refus de paternité, les grossesses non désirées, la promesse d’un emploi et le besoin de le conserver à tout prix, les études… Selon le Dsr, ce phénomène des avortements à risque est très répandu dans le pays. Aucune localité n’est épargnée. Mais l’ampleur du phénomène est plus importante dans les zones de forte migration comme Louga, Kaolack, Touba, le Fouta…
Au niveau de la Division de la santé de la reproduction, une politique de capacitation du personnel de santé sur les soins après avortement est menée. ‘Notre rôle n’est pas de faire la police, mais plutôt de soigner’, précise la sage-femme Seyni Konté Diop, déplorant le fait que les femmes arrivent tardivement dans les structures de santé pour se faire prendre en charge. Une fois dans la structure de santé, la femme est d’abord soumise à un traitement d’urgence. Ensuite, elle fait l’objet d’un councelling pré, per et post avortement. Un lien est établi avec la communauté pour éviter les retards lors des consultations.
Mais le plus important est de régler les besoins non satisfaits en matière de planification familiale. Ceux-ci tournent autour de 35 %. Face à ce gap, la Dsr envisage d’institutionnaliser une journée spécialement dédiée à la planification familiale. Elle entend également élargir la gamme de produits contraceptifs.
Quant à l’autorisation d’un avortement, elle relève d’un véritable parcours de combattant. Elle n’est accordée que si la vie de la femme enceinte est en danger. Mais pour cela, il faudra obtenir l’avis de trois experts différents en plus de l’autorisation du procureur de la République.
Walf Fadhri
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