India – Covid-19 exacerbates the risk of unsafe abortions | Opinion

The lack of safe abortion facilities will have an impact on both health and family planning long after the coronavirus crisis is overcome, both in terms of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. Planning for this now is the only option

Jul 26, 2020
Lalita Panicker, Hindustan Times

The coronavirus pandemic has hit India’s health systems. As many services get affected, a key area of concern has been reproductive health. This includes safe abortions. It is vital for women’s health that these take place in a proper medical facility under the care of qualified professionals. With many public health facilities having been taken over for Covid-19, and several private health facilities being shut down as a result of a shortage of staff and the lack of supply chains for medicines, there is a real danger of women having to resort to back alley methods for abortion. The fact that contraception is not easily available and that they are unable to travel to a medical facility even if it is within reach adds to the problem.

Continued: https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/covid-19-exacerbates-the-risk-of-unsafe-abortions/story-FdAnkRTc0vgWR4gLO3ROfM.html