The Federal Government is making significant strides towards decriminalizing abortion in Nigeria, a move intended to protect women and girls from preventable deaths caused by unsafe procedures.
Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, Director of the Family Health Department at the Federal Ministry of Health, announced this at the SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) Summit 1.0, held in Abuja.
The summit, organized by the Media Health & Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR) in commemoration of World Contraception Day, was themed “A Choice for All: Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose.”
Represented by Barrister Nma Ogbonna, head of the Health Promotion Department, Dr. Ukaire highlighted the pressing need for reform, stating that current legislation criminalizes abortion under sections 288 to 290 of the Criminal Code, leaving both women and healthcare professionals vulnerable to severe penalties.
“Government is going to make sure that it is no longer a criminal act because if we go on, even the doctor that performed the act is equally getting up to 14 years imprisonment,” she said.
Addressing Maternal Deaths Linked to Unsafe Abortions
Dr. Elijah Olushola, Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Department, shared alarming statistics at the event, revealing that unsafe abortions account for 20% to 30% of maternal deaths among adolescents and young women in Nigeria.
He stressed the urgency of reforming abortion laws, stating, “There is a dire need to review these laws as many maternal deaths are preventable.”
The lack of routine data on abortions was another concern raised by Dr. Olushola, who called for more comprehensive data collection to better understand the scope of the issue.
Unplanned Pregnancies and Preventable Deaths
Dr. Lucky Palmer, Country Director of IPas Nigeria Health Foundation, added that unplanned pregnancies contribute to over 1,500 maternal deaths annually in Nigeria.
“These are deaths that could easily be prevented with access to effective contraceptives,” Dr. Palmer emphasized, urging for improved access to reproductive health services to reduce preventable maternal mortality.
As the federal government and its partners push forward on decriminalizing abortion, the Ministry of Health is also intensifying efforts to educate the public on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“We are working tirelessly to ensure that the populace is well-informed, especially women and girls, so they can make informed choices about their health and rights,” said Barrister Ogbonna.
This initiative comes amid growing calls for the Nigerian government to align with global health standards and ensure that reproductive health care is safe and accessible for all citizens.
