US supreme court abortion reversal would be global ‘catastrophe’ for women

If Roe v Wade is overturned, it will encourage anti-choice groups – particularly in the developing world, activists warn

Wed 18 May 2022
The Guardian

The probable demise of abortion as a federal right in the US will be a “catastrophe” for women in low and middle-income countries, with an emboldened anti-choice movement likely to raise renewed pressure on hard-won gains, doctors and activists have warned.

The leak this month of the US supreme court’s draft majority opinion, which argued that the 1973 ruling effectively legalising abortion had been “egregiously wrong from the start”, stunned and enraged many in America.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/may/18/us-supreme-court-abortion-reversal-would-be-global-catastrophe-for-women

Uganda – Gulu district struggling with unsafe abortions

The Independent
December 31, 2021

Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Gulu district health department is battling with unsafe abortions due to persistent increase in teenage pregnancies.

Statistics from the Gulu district and City health departments indicate that a total of 474 cases of unsafe abortions among teenage girls were registered between 2020 and 2021.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.ug/gulu-district-struggling-with-unsafe-abortions/

31.12.2021

Featured

News

teenage pregnancy

Uganda Penal Code Act

Looking back on the successes of the International Safe Abortion Day 2021

10 December 2021
FIGO Advocating for Safe Abortion Project

For International Safe Abortion Day (ISAD), marked on 28 September, the 10 national member societies FIGO supports through its Advocating for Safe Abortion Project developed educational activities and awareness-raising campaigns in their countries and communities.

“International Safe Abortion Day is about making what is often ignored – the preventable pandemic of unsafe abortions - visible. As a committed health care community we come together to demonstrate what solutions must be implemented. Together with our partners, we raise our voices to dismantle abortion-related stigma which is the enemy of women/girls’ right to claim access to safe abortion – time-sensitive essential health care. This year from Latin America to Africa we are proud to share the efforts of our OBGYN member societies, and all that they are doing to stand up for women/girls’ health care and human rights.”
– Jessica Morris, Senior Project Manager, Advocating for Safe Abortion Project, FIGO

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/looking-back-successes-international-safe-abortion-day-2021

Uganda – Health Experts Spell Out Measures to Tackle Unsafe Abortions amidst COVID-19

Esther Makula
October 20, 2021

Covid-19 lockdowns have led to a spike in unplanned pregnancies, increasing the risk of unsafe abortions especially among teenage girls, health experts have said.

Data for the first half of 2021 by the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) showed that 22% of all abortion cases reported during that period were among adolescents aged 10-19.

Continued: https://chimpreports.com/health-experts-spell-out-measures-to-tackle-unsafe-abortions-amidst-covid-19/

Stigma is the main cause of unsafe abortions

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 27 2021
By Shabibah Nakirigya

Abortion in Uganda is still illegal unless performed by a licensed medical doctor and in a situation where the woman’s life is deemed to be at risk.

As the world marks the international Safe Abortion Day slated for Tuesday, September 28, health activists admit the continuous existence of the problem, calling for the urgent need to fight the vice especially among young girls and vulnerable women.

Continued: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/healthy-living/stigma-is-the-main-cause-of-unsafe-abortions-3564368

What Happens When Women Can’t Get Legal Abortions

Examples from around the world show that restrictions can actually lead to more, not fewer, abortions.

By Neha Wadekar, a Nairobi-based journalist.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

In a 5-4 decision late Wednesday night, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to block a Texas law banning most abortions after six weeks, which is before many women even know they’re pregnant. Known as Senate Bill 8, the law does not allow exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, making it the harshest abortion restriction in the country. The law sets the stage for a battle over the future of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision, which states that the Constitution protects a pregnant woman’s right to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.

Reduced abortion access in the United States could have catastrophic results. In countries around the world with limited or no access to safe, affordable abortion, people are either forced to keep unwanted pregnancies or dismembered or even killed by unsafe abortions each day.

Continued: https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/09/03/abortion-ban-texas-supreme-court-kenya-uganda-africa/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921

Uganda – COVID-19 affects maternal health care

PATRICIA AKANKWATSA, The Independent
July 23, 2021

Uganda’s response to COVID-19 has negatively impacted maternal, child and neonatal health, accord[1]ing to data by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The UNFPA says the biggest and longest lasting impact is seen in complications of pregnancy, stillbirths and low-birth weight infants likely due to delayed care-seeking behaviour.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.ug/covid-19-affects-maternal-health-care/

African states, donors launch initiative to boost access to contraceptives

Source: Xinhua
2021-07-05

NAIROBI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Three African countries including Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Uganda on Monday joined hands with international donors to launch an initiative aimed at improving access to reproductive health services including contraceptives.

Senior policymakers said the launch of Shaping Equitable Market Access (SEMA) for Reproductive Health initiative will help reduce unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions among women and girls in Africa and other low-income countries.

Continued: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2021-07/06/c_1310044494.htm

Building bridges: OBGYNs engage with traditional healers to strengthen access to safe abortion in Africa

11 March 2021

As part of FIGO’s ongoing Advocating for Safe Abortion Project (ASAP), three of our member societies shared their experiences engaging with traditional healers and the lessons they have learned from these activities and engagements.

‘Traditional healer’ is used to describe a person who provides counselling and/or herbal remedies to community members for an array of health issues. This may include supporting women and girls with their pregnancies, labour and reproductive health concerns, as well as providing the community with guidance on birth, wedding and death rituals, and other community-related affairs.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/building-bridges-obgyns-engage-traditional-healers-strengthen-access-safe-abortion-africa

Uganda – Role of morality in legal and policy development process

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 2021
Annah Kukundakwe

President Yoweri Museveni in his speech during the NRM Liberation Day on January 26 said people should leave their religious beliefs at home and not carry them to office.

I am not sure what motivated him to take this stance, but in my case, I am motivated by the fact that the morality whip that is mainly wielded by religious leaders and members of their congregation, has proven to be untenable.

Continued: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/role-of-morality-in-legal-and-policy-development-process-3318306

10.03.2021