Malawi: Young Girls Bear the Brunt of Unsafe Abortions in Blantyre

11 MARCH 2024
Centre for Solutions Journalism (Blantyre)
By Penelope Paliani Kamanga

Blantyre — Data from Blantyre District Health Office shows that the majority of people seeking post-abortion care are young girls. Of the 2003 reported cases that were treated for post-abortion care from unsafe abortions in the last quarter of 2023, a staggering 1003 were under the age of 20, while 1000 were slightly over 20 years old.

Blantyre-based youth activist Rebecca Majamanda said the figures highlight the vulnerability of adolescent girls and young women to the risks associated with unsafe abortion practices, including severe health complications and death.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202403110028.html


Malawi Activists Lobby for Abortion Law Reforms

March 10, 2024
By Chimwemwe Padatha
Video: 2:48 minutes

In Malawi, 35,000 backstreet abortions were carried out in 2022 and 2023, according to its Ministry of Health. These unsafe procedures are just one reason support for abortion rights has increased in recent years. Chimwemwe Padatha has more from Lilongwe.

Continued: https://www.voanews.com/a/malawi-activists-lobby-for-abortion-law-reforms/7521799.html


Cases of unsafe abortion soars: In 2023, Malawi registered 35 000 unsafe abortions

January 4, 2024
Naomi Mkwanda

Government says the country registered unprecedented 35 000 unsafe abortions last year, renewing calls for the country to ease abortion laws so that they reflect the situation on the ground.

Abortion is illegal in the country as it is only supposed to be done in extreme instances where the life of woman is said to be in danger.

Continued: https://www.nyasatimes.com/cases-of-unsafe-abortion-soars-in-2023-malawi-registered-35-000-unsafe-abortions/


Malawi -NGO calls for review of laws amid surge in unsafe abortion

Dec 24, 2023
Archangel Nzangaya

Amid increased cases of unsafe abortion amongst girls and women in Malawi, a non-governmental organization, Nyale Institute, has encouraged authorities and relevant stakeholders to review the country’s sexual reproductive laws.

This is according to Nyale Institute’s Executive Director Dr Godfrey Kangaude who made the calls on the sidelines of a revelation that this year, there has been an increase in number of women and girls who sought treatment at a post abortion clinic in Blantyre.

Continued: https://malawi24.com/2023/12/24/ngo-calls-for-review-of-laws-amid-surge-in-unsafe-abortion/


Malawi – Youth facing challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services

Oct 25, 2023 
Mike Kalumbi 

Young people in the country are still facing challenges in accessing sexual reproductive health services and this is putting them at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections including HIV and unplanned and early pregnancies with negative consequences such as dropping out of school and unsafe abortion.

This was revealed during a youth open day organised by Banja la Mtsogolo which took place yesterday in Lilongwe at Unicef Ground, Chinsapo.

Continued: https://malawi24.com/2023/10/25/youth-facing-challenges-in-accessing-sexual-reproductive-health-services/


Malawi – Youths struggle to access Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

Oct 08, 2023 
Francis Tayanja-Phiri 

Girls and women struggle to access Sexual and Reproductive Health services in health facilities. Journalist Francis Tayanjah-Phiri discusses some of the challenges the youth face with the Executive Director of Young Voices Kenneth Mtago

What are the challenges youth face as they access Sexual and Reproductive Health services?
Mtago: The challenges are many including those that on socio-economic, cultural, and environmental conditions. Most youths are not financially independent and it is difficult for them to access quality services. Furthermore, some health facilities do not have youth friendly services, forcing the youth to shun hostile service providers with staff who have negative personnel attitudes. Imagine a youth seeking condoms from a health worker who remarks: Inunso mwayamba za chiwerewere? (Have you resorted to promiscuity?). The other challenge is lack of comprehensive sexuality education, resulting in the youth failing to understand their bodies. Due to low levels of knowledge on contraceptives availability, unsafe abortions are another problem haunting many girls and women.

Continued: https://malawi24.com/2023/10/08/youths-struggle-to-access-sexual-and-reproductive-health-services/


Malawi: Breaking the Barriers On Access to Safe Abortion to Reduce Maternal Mortality

28 SEPTEMBER 2023
Centre for Solutions Journalism (Blantyre)

28 September marks the annual International Safe Abortion Day. As Malawi joins the rest of the world in commemorating the day, it is important for the government to fulfill the commitment made in the National Postabortion Care Policy that 'no woman should suffer or die from complications of abortion in Malawi.'

Despite making the commitment, the reality is that many women and girls continue to die from unsafe abortion.

Recent data from the Ministry of Health shows an upsurge of unsafe abortions in several districts in Malawi, as reflected in the number of women and girls seeking post-abortion care in health facilities.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202309280103.html


Bwaila District Hospital overwhelmed with post-abortion cases

Sep 07, 2023 
Malawi News Agency

District Nursing Midwifery officer at Bwaila hospital, Bertha Mwale Kaudza, says the hospital is overwhelmed with abortion cases as it gets about 268 post-abortion cases per month referred to the facility, most of which are complications emanating from unsafe abortions.

The Officer said this during a study tour that Family Planning Association of Malawi, FPAM in conjunction with European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) organized for Members of Parliament (MPs) from European Countries to appreciate how sexual and reproductive health issues are facilitated in the country.

Continued: https://malawi24.com/2023/09/07/bwaila-district-hospital-overwhelmed-with-post-bortion-cases/


Mozambique: 20 Years After Maputo, It’s a Long Road Ahead to Gender Equality

Two decades on from a landmark treaty advancing the rights of African women, gender equality remains alive on paper, elusive in practice.

12 JULY 2023
By Madalitso Kateta

Magret Kawala of Mponela in Dowa district, central Malawi had always experienced the joys of motherhood and married life. But when she became pregnant while nursing a nine-month-old child Kawala's fortunes changed.

When it was confirmed that she was three months pregnant, her instinct told her she had to go for an abortion. She discussed the issue with her husband, but since surgical abortion in Malawi is illegal and only permissible when a pregnancy pauses a threat to a woman, the couple opted for a backstreet abortion.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202307130009.html