13 percent of the causes of Maternal Mortality in Nigeria has been linked to Unsafe Abortions.
The Country Director, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, Lucky Palmer noted this in a statement to mark the International Safe Abortion Day.
Palmer said the day is set aside to identify with millions of women worldwide who are experiencing torture through forced pregnancies or unsafe abortion because of denied access to safe Abortion.
(Maputo Protocol). These conventions and protocols
guarantee the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of women and girls, but we
have yet to domesticate and operationalise them.
“Ipas Nigeria, join Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights activists in Nigeria in calling
on the government to recognise women’s sexual reproductive health as essential
health care. They must commit to its achievement through legislation and
implementing policies that facilitate access to sexual and reproductive health
services and information.
“Such recognition must include safe Abortion and post abortion care services and repealing of harmful policies. Also, address structural barriers embedded in social norms, laws, and policies that prevent individuals from realising their sexual and reproductive health and rights and exacerbate the multiple crises we are currently experiencing.
“Abortion is Health Care and a Human rights issue, not a religious or moral subject.
Nigeria’s government must recognise this and honours its international commitment to respect Human rights”.
