Consultant Warms Women And Girls To Shun Abortion
Adolescents, youths and women have been charged to prevent unsafe abortions to check maternal deaths. The importance of comprehensive data on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), which would help spread effective information and enhance efforts towards better practices, was also advocated.
This was at a three-day capacity-building workshop on Amplifying Female Voices in Demanding Accountability on Preventable Maternal Deaths in Lagos State, organised by Leadership Initiative For Youth Empowerment (LIFE) and supported by Amplify Change, held in Lagos yesterday.
Speaking on Data on Adolescents, Youth and Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Needs, Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist, General Hospital Mushin, Dr Muyideen Adelakun, noted that common pregnancy complications such as haemorrhage, hypertension, gestational diabetes, unsafe abortion and infection, among others remain major causes of maternal mortality.
He emphasised the importance of SRHR, stating that it is a fundamental human right which promotes gender equality, breaks the cycle of poverty through family planning, reduces maternal mortality and morbidity, and empowers adolescents and youths with knowledge.
He said it also helps to prevent early and forced marriage, combats HIV/AIDS and other STIs, as well as enhance mental and emotional well-being, and protect the rights of marginalised groups.
According to him, SRHR needs for adolescents and youths are access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) safe abortion and post-abortion care, protection from Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and harmful practices.
He said research from UNFPA in 2022 stated that one in four women in Africa lacked access to modern contraception, adding that there is a modern contraceptive prevention rate (mCPR) of 28 per cent, and 12 per cent in Nigeria.
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