FG Pledges Stronger Action to Curb Unsafe Abortions and Save Women’s Lives
The Federal Government of Nigeria has restated its commitment to addressing the high incidence of unsafe abortions in Nigeria, calling this critical public health issue a preventable but deadly contributor to the nation’s maternal mortality rate.
Speaking at the International Safe Abortion Conference in Abuja, Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, Director of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, described unsafe abortion as a major public health crisis that must be urgently addressed to improve the health and rights of women and girls across the country.
Represented by Dr. Robert Daniel, Dr. Ukaire pointed out that unsafe abortion procedures, often performed by unqualified providers or in unregulated environments, are responsible for thousands of preventable deaths annually.
“Unsafe abortion continues to be a major contributor to Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, especially among poor and rural women who lack access to safe and affordable reproductive healthcare,” she said.
Key Commitments: Federal Government Strategy to Address Unsafe Abortion in Nigeria
The government’s commitment focuses on a multi-pronged strategy to reduce these needless deaths:
- Expanding Access to Contraceptive Services: To help prevent unintended pregnancies, particularly among vulnerable populations.
- Training for Post-Abortion Care: Training of healthcare providers to deliver high-quality, life-saving post-abortion care, especially in underserved and high-risk areas.
- Improving Data Reporting: Improvement of abortion-related data reporting through the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) to inform better policy and intervention strategies.
- Strengthening Partnerships: Enhancing collaboration with NGOs, development agencies, and community stakeholders to boost public awareness and access to safe reproductive health services.
- Addressing Stigma and Legal Limits: Ongoing advocacy and policy engagement to address stigma, misinformation, and legal limitations that push women toward unsafe procedures.
Over 456,000 Unsafe Abortions Occur Annually
Dr. Ukaire cited national data showing that over 456,000 unsafe abortions occur in Nigeria every year, with women in rural communities often facing the greatest risks due to lack of access to skilled health professionals and comprehensive sexual health education.
She emphasized that nearly all complications and deaths from unsafe abortions are avoidable with the right systems in place. “By ensuring access to safe, rights-based reproductive healthcare, we can prevent needless deaths and protect the dignity and wellbeing of every Nigerian woman and girl,” she concluded.
The conference, hosted by Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, was part of activities marking International Safe Abortion Day, aimed at promoting reproductive justice and reducing maternal deaths through access to safe and legal abortion care where permitted.