Unsafe Abortion is said to be one of the causes of maternal deaths worldwide. In Nigeria, Unsafe Abortions contribute between 13% and 30% to the causes of Maternal Mortality in our country. Every 6 in 10 abortions are unsafe in Nigeria, leading to death, morbidity and fertility issues for women. In Nigeria, the restrictive abortion law promotes unsafe abortion in the country.
Reducing unsafe abortion is a low-hanging fruit to addressing maternal mortality in Nigeria. While we applaud countries including Ghana and Benin who have interpreted their existing laws to recognize the importance of safe abortion services for women’s health and well-being, we implore the Government of Nigeria to expand legal indications for abortion access to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria.
Nigeria is a signatory to most international and regional frameworks such as CEDAW and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). These conventions and protocols guarantee the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of women and girls, but we have yet to domesticate and operationalize them.
Today, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation calls on the government to recognize women’s sexual reproductive health, including safe abortion access, as essential health care. Restrictions to access safe abortion care and outright criminalization of abortion are harming and even killing people, disproportionately affecting communities suffering multiple levels of oppression – those in poverty or situations of crisis, and rural communities.
Legislation and policies that facilitate access to sexual and reproductive health services and information must be implemented. Also, we must address structural barriers embedded in social norms, laws, and policies that prevent individuals from realizing 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 recognize this and honors its international commitment to respect Human rights.
The Country Director, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, Lucky Palmer says:
“In Nigeria, unsafe abortion contributes between 13% to 30% of maternal mortality. Deaths from maternal mortality are up to 1047 per 100,000 births (2023, WHO), the 3rd highest in the world but the highest in number of DEAD WOMEN. We can do better.
Should women continue to die from unsafe abortions? Or do we want to hold the government accountable for changing our abortion laws? A woman should have the right to have an abortion safely, not only when her life is in danger, especially when the pregnancy results from rape or incest.
Countries like Ghana and Ethiopia have exemplified that expanding abortion access makes it safe and accessible for all, which has impacted the reduction of maternal mortality rates in these countries. The same can be done in Nigeria.
It is time for us to join the movement in challenging our laws to create safe and legal access to abortion, therefore protecting women from dying from unsafe abortions in Nigeria.’’