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.