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

Africa commits to curb maternal mortality rate through CARMMA

Africa commits to curb maternal mortality rate through CARMMA

By International Institute For Non – Aligned Studies
March 30, 2020

For an unbiased growth of the economy, an equal contribution of men and women is what is required. Reiterating its commitment towards the same, the Non-Aligned Movement has translated in its efforts the importance of an equal contribution from both men and women of the society.

While women contribute equally to the growth and development prospects of an economy, the issue of maternal deaths continue to remain a major crisis among several nations and Africa is one of them. The areas reflecting inequities to health services and lack of awareness among the population are more prone to the crisis. Often caused due to haemorrhage, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, infection and obstructed labour, the rates of maternal morbidity and mortality are found highest among adolescent girls below 15 years of age. Girls under this age bar face a higher risk of complications and death as compared to other women.

Continued: https://www.newdelhitimes.com/africa-commits-to-curb-maternal-mortality-rate-through-carmma/

30.03.2020

Featured

Opinion

Africa Cares: No Woman should Die while Giving Birth

African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa

Campaign for the Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa

CARMMA

International Institute For Non-Aligned Studies

Maputo Plan of Action

maternal death

sexual and reproductive health and rights

Global

Health

Human Rights

Malawi: Time to Decriminalize Draconian Abortion Law

Malawi: Time to Decriminalize Draconian Abortion Law
Sept 28, 2017

Blantyre — As the world celebrates the International Safe Abortion Day on Thursday, 28 September, we, at the Centre for Solutions Journalism (CSJ) call on the Malawi government to decriminalise abortion, provide access to safe abortion services and end stigma and discrimination towards women who choose to terminate unintended pregnancies.

By decriminalizing abortion, Malawi will be fulfilling her obligation as a signatory of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Plan of Action) whose ultimate goal is for African Governments, civil society, the private sector, and all multi-sectoral development partners to work together in order to end preventable maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent deaths, expand contraceptive use, reduce levels of unsafe abortion, end child marriage and eradicate harmful traditional practices and eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls.

Continued at source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201709280872.html

Implementing legal abortion in Rwanda and its challenges

Implementing legal abortion in Rwanda and its challenges
May 23, 2017

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) is the main legal instrument for the protection of the rights of women and girls in Africa and the most comprehensive on women’s rights globally. The Protocol went into effect in November 2005, after the minimum 15 of the then 53 African Union member countries ratified it. Today, 49 countries have ratified.

Rwanda signed and ratified the Protocol in 2004 but placed a reservation on Article 14.2.C, which stipulates that countries should “protect the reproductive rights of women by authorizing medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest, and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother or the life of the mother or the fetus. It subsequently lifted the reservation in 2012, making Rwanda fully committed to the Protocol.

Continued at source: News Ghana: https://www.newsghana.com.gh/implementing-legal-abortion-in-rwanda-and-its-challenges/

The Africa Regional Conference on Abortion: From Research to Policy Conference Declaration

Guttmacher Institute, International (Ethiopia), Dec 15, 2016

During the last decade, women in Africa have made progress in achieving greater gender equality, financial security and access to health care. Women have assumed positions of leadership and governance in international forums, national offices and at community levels. Young African women and men have grown more vocal in their support for women’s equality.

But throughout the region, women and girls are still denied the ability to control their reproductive lives. In many places, reproductive health care, including safe abortion care, is inaccessible—particularly for young, rural, poor, displaced and uneducated women—for a variety of reasons including legal restrictions, cost and cultural stigma. This stigma extends to health care providers who may not provide abortion care as a result.

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Source: Guttmacher Institute

15.12.2016