Malawi – Women and girls encouraged to use contraceptive pills to avoid unsafe abortion

 Oct 06, 2022 
Mike Kalumbi 

A non-governmental organisation has encouraged women and girls in the country to use emergency contraceptive pills after unprotected sex to avoid unwanted pregnancy which leads to unsafe abortion.

The NGO, called DKT Women Care Global, made the call in Lilongwe after launching its products called MisoFem, Misomife-Fem Combo and postpill.

Continued: https://malawi24.com/2022/10/06/women-and-girls-encouraged-to-use-contraceptive-pills-to-avoid-unsafe-abortion/


Malawi – 669 unsafe abortions out of 4123 teenage pregnancies raise alarm in Phalombe

Apr 19, 2022 
Chikondi Magalasi

Phalombe North East Parliamentarian Dennis Namachekecha has bemoaned an increase in unsafe abortions among teenage girls in the district as health office’s report indicate that 669 unsafe abortions were conducted in 2021 alone.

The district’s Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS) office report indicate that in 2021 there were 4123 teenage pregnancies that were registered out of this 669 unsafely aborted their pregnancies.

Continued: https://malawi24.com/2022/04/19/669-unsafe-abortions-out-of-4123-teenage-pregnancies-raise-alarm-in-phalombe/


Malawi: Ten Most Deadliest Ways of Unsafe Abortion Uncovered in Mzuzu – ‘I Saw Her Inserting a Wire…’

24 DECEMBER 2021
Nyasa Times (Leeds)
By Dawn Salamba – Contributor

At a time the debate over legalisation of safe abortion has become swept under the carpet in Malawi, it has emerged that some girls, in pursuit of terminating their unwanted pregnancies, are using life-threatening ways in Mzuzu.

While some girls use traditional ways, under the guidance of some local, unqualified midwives, others have inverted some despicable ways of flushing out inconvenient pregnancies.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202112240085.html


Lack of access to post-abortion care leading to maternal deaths

Sep 08, 2021 
Malawi24 Reporter

Ipas Malawi says lack of knowledge on how
women can access post-abortion care in health facilities is contributing to
high levels of maternal deaths in the country.

Ipas Malawi Program Manager Luke Tembo said this in Mzuzu during a
dissemination meeting for District Health Managers from the northern region
districts.

Continued: https://malawi24.com/2021/09/08/lack-of-access-to-post-abortion-care-leading-to-maternal-deaths/


Malawi – Abortion motion withdrawn to pave way for civic education

Jun 17, 2021 
Russell Kondowe 

Chiradzulu West Member of Parliament Dr Mathews Ngwale has withdrawn his intention to table a private member’s motion on Abortion Bill, saying stakeholders should continue sensitising and civic-educating people in the country about what the bill says.

Ngwale who is also  Chairperson
for the Parliamentary Committee on Health said a lot of people are not aware of
the importance for law on safe abortion to be legislated hence it is important
for people to be sensitised.

Continued: https://malawi24.com/2021/06/17/abortion-motion-withdrawn-to-pave-way-for-civic-education/


Malawi Parliament Rejects Debate On Liberalizing Abortion Law

By Lameck Masina
March 12, 2021

BLANTYRE, MALAWI - Malawi's National Assembly has rejected a motion to debate liberalizing the country's strict law against abortion, which is only allowed if the mother's life is at risk.  Despite thousands of Malawian women dying each year from unsafe abortions, lawmakers on Thursday unanimously rejected a motion to debate the long-delayed Termination of Pregnancy Bill.   

The bill, pushed by activists since 2015, aimed to expand legal abortion from cases where the mother’s life is at risk to include rape, incest, fetal deformity, and threats to health. 

Continued: https://www.voanews.com/africa/malawi-parliament-rejects-debate-liberalizing-abortion-law


Malawi: Abortion Bill in Parliament On Thursday As Malawi As Churches Oppose

10 MARCH 2021

By Chipambano Mbewe, Nyasa Times (Leeds)

The Malawi Parliamentary Health Committee says it will present and move a
motion of the Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) bill on Thursday, March 11 2021 in
the Parliament which will also be presented as a Private Member's Bill
respectively in the face of opposition from faith groups.

If passed, the termination of pregnancy bill would allow abortions when a
woman's mental or physical health is in danger, in cases of rape and incest,
and when there are serious foetal abnormalities.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202103110315.html


Malawi to Debate Liberalizing Abortion in Face of Conservative Opposition

By Lameck Masina
March 10, 2021

BLANTYRE, MALAWI - Abortion is illegal in Malawi, unless the mother's life is at risk, but that doesn't stop an estimated 140,000 women per year having unsafe terminations that leave 12,000 women dead and countless others permanently scarred. Despite these numbers, efforts to liberalize current abortion laws are facing resistance from conservative groups.

After getting pregnant at age 17, “Melita” – not her real name – saw abortion as her only option to stay in school.

Continued: https://www.voanews.com/africa/malawi-debate-liberalizing-abortion-face-conservative-opposition


Malawi MPs debate bill to liberalise abortion laws as churches oppose

Law would widen strict rules in country where thousands suffer complications from unsafe terminations

Charles Pensulo in Lilongwe
Thu 25 Feb 2021

A bill to liberalise Malawi’s abortion laws will be debated by MPs on Thursday in the face of opposition from faith groups.

If passed, the termination of pregnancy bill would allow abortions when a woman’s mental or physical health is in danger, in cases of rape and incest, and when there are serious foetal abnormalities.

Continued:  https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/25/malawi-mps-debate-bill-to-liberalise-abortion-laws-as-churches-oppose


Thousands of women dying ‘like chickens’ as efforts to change Malawi’s strict abortion laws stall

Roughly 12,000 women die from back street abortions each year in Malawi, yet continuing efforts to relax strict laws face heavy opposition

By Henry Kijimwana Mhango, MANGOCHI, MALAWI
19 February 2021

It was Angrita's only choice: to terminate a pregnancy by any means necessary and save her family from shame. But the procedure took her to the grave.

The 14 year old orphan was rejected by a man who she says impregnated her. Dorothy Fundai, her grandmother, hides tears as she recalls how Angrita’s fear of being a “laughing stock” in her remote village near Mangochi, at the southern tip of Lake Malawi, drove her to adopt dangerous methods to terminate her pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/thousands-women-dying-like-chickens-efforts-change-malawis-strict/