Magret Kawala

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

Slow march to reduce unsafe abortion
James Chavula
October 27, 2017

Living in a grass-thatched hut near Mponela in Dowa, Magret Kawala knows why rural women will keep dying of backstreet abortions unless laws are relaxed.

The village heads, who reigns over almost 50 households and 250 people, counts herself “lucky to be still alive” having survived deadly complications of clandestine abortion eight years ago.

“My lastborn was only two months old when I started vomiting and feeling dizzy. I couldn’t eat. I went for checkups and a nurse confirmed that I was pregnant. I felt bad. The baby was still lactating. I didn’t know what to do really,” she recalls.

Continued at source: http://mwnation.com/slow-march-reduce-unsafe-abortion/

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Malawi: Slow march to reduce unsafe abortion