Nigeria Records 610,000 Unsafe Abortions Yearly

Nigeria Records 610,000 Unsafe Abortions Yearly
Lagos State Medical Director Urges Amendments to Abortion Laws to Protect Victims

Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, called on the government to reform Nigeria’s restrictive abortion laws. His appeal emphasizes the need for legal provisions that would allow abortion in cases of rape and incest, as well as when the health of the mother is at risk.

During the Sixth Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Annual Lecture in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Fabamwo disclosed alarming statistics, revealing that around 610,000 unsafe abortions occur annually in Nigeria, with over 80% of these procedures being performed by unqualified individuals. He decried the current abortion legislation, which dates back to 1907, as outdated and inadequate for today’s society.

In his speech, Fabamwo highlighted the grave consequences of unsafe abortions, noting that Nigeria experiences a maternal mortality rate of 1,500 per 100,000 live births, with unsafe abortions accounting for 13% of this figure. He stated, “Under current laws, a woman who becomes pregnant due to rape has no legal recourse to terminate the pregnancy, nor does a victim of incest. The law must be updated to allow these individuals to make choices that can save their lives.”

He also pointed to research indicating that 27% of women in Southwest Nigeria face unwanted pregnancies. Historical data from 2003 highlighted that 15% of live births were unintended, with 12% of pregnancies ending in induced abortion. With such high rates of unplanned pregnancies, women often resort to unsafe means of termination due to legal, cultural, and religious stigmas that push them towards unlicensed practitioners.

Fabamwo warned of the grave risks involved, stating that over 60% of abortions in Nigeria are deemed unsafe, leading to complications for 11% of women who later seek medical treatment following these procedures. Tragically, some suffer severe, life-altering injuries, and others do not survive.

Referencing the Bible, he noted that Genesis 3:16 speaks of increased pain in childbearing but does not imply that women should face death during childbirth.

In a related note, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), praised the late Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele for her contributions to women’s health and expressed gratitude to her family for preserving her legacy.

Additionally, Dr. Ayokunle Olumadeji and Dr. Terry Saalu were each awarded N1.5 million in grants by the Foundation in recognition of their research contributions in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The event was chaired by Emeritus Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie.


Copyright 2024 REPORT AFRIQUE (RA). Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.reportafrique.com and other relevant sources.This Article is Fact-Checked. See Policy.
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