The Federal Ministry of Health’s Director of Family Health, Dr. Biniellem Ukayire, said the federal government was working towards the decriminalization of abortion in the country.
She said this at the SRHR Summit 1.0, organized by the Nigeria Media Health and Rights Initiative (MHR) to commemorate this year’s World Contraceptive Day in Abuja this Thursday. The theme was “Choice for All: Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose.”
Represented by Barrister Nma Ogbonna, Director-General of Health Promotion at the Ministry, Sections 288 to 290 of the Penal Code criminalize abortion, but the government and partners need to deny access to girls and women of reproductive age. He said he was aware of it. continue to die in silence.
She said: “The government is going to make sure that this is no longer a criminal act, because if things continue like this, even the doctor who did it will be facing up to 14 years in prison as well. ” he said.
She said the Department of Health Promotion is working diligently to educate the public about sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Dr. Elijah Olusola, Executive Director, Ogun State Primary Health Care Authority, said more than 20% to 30% of maternal deaths in Nigeria are the result of unsafe abortions performed among adolescents and young adults.
He lamented the unavailability of routine data on abortion, adding that the country’s abortion laws needed to be reviewed.
Dr. Lucky Palmer, Country Director, IPas Nigeria Health Foundation, said unplanned pregnancies contribute to more than 1,500 maternal deaths annually in Nigeria, and these deaths are due to the use of effective contraceptives. He added that this can be easily prevented by doing so.
