Foundation demands legal reform, supportive care for women, girls in Nigeria

March 11, 2026

A nonprofit group, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, has called on government and all stakeholders to ensure a more supportive environment that empowers women and girls in the country to make informed decisions about their lives and health.

The Country Director of Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, Dr. Lucky Palmer, in a press statement to commemorate the International Women’s Day called for reform of outdated laws in the country to protect women’s access to safe abortion care and equip healthcare workers with adequate training to deliver safe and high-quality services.

Continued: https://thenationonlineng.net/foundation-demands-legal-reform-supportive-care-for-women-girls-in-nigeria/

11.03.2026

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NIGERIA – FG vows tougher action against unsafe abortions, maternal mortality

By : Ene Oshaba, Abuja
1 Oct 2025

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing maternal mortality by tackling unsafe abortion and strengthening reproductive health systems nationwide.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Director of Family Health, Robert M. Daniel, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday at the International Safe Abortion Conference organised by Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation to mark International Safe Abortion Day.

Continued: https://guardian.ng/news/fg-vows-tougher-action-against-unsafe-abortions-maternal-mortality/

Nigeria affirms right to abortion for survivors of sexual violence

July 23, 2025
Ipas

In a landmark decision in June 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed that unplanned pregnancies resulting from rape, incest and other forms of sexual violence is a violation of the rights of women and girls.

“The ruling is a welcome development, as this is the first time a superior court in Nigeria has recognized that pregnancies arising from sexual violence not only harm a woman’s physical health but also her mental wellbeing,” says Lucky Palmer, director of the Ipas Nigerian Health Foundation. “The decision represents a critical legal precedent and a significant stride toward safeguarding the bodily autonomy and dignity of women and girls in Nigeria.”

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/nigeria-affirms-right-to-abortion-for-survivors-of-sexual-violence/

23.07.2025

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Stakeholders Alarmed By 610,000 Unsafe Abortions In Nigeria, Urge Contraceptive Access

By Racheal Abujah
October 4, 2024

Health sector stakeholders have raised alarm over the concerning rate of unsafe abortions in Nigeria, where approximately 610,000 unsafe abortions occur annually.

This revelation was made during the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Summit 1.0, held in Abuja to commemorate World Contraception Day 2024.

The summit, organised by the Media, Health, and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHRIN), was themed “A Choice for All: Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose.” The event brought together health professionals, policymakers and advocates to discuss the alarming number of unsafe abortions in Nigeria and the urgent need to improve access to contraceptives as a solution to unplanned pregnancies and maternal mortality.

Continued: https://sciencenigeria.com/stakeholders-alarmed-by-610000-unsafe-abortions-in-nigeria-urge-contraceptive-access/

Nigeria – How restrictive reproductive health laws endanger women’s lives

June 7, 2024
by ENE OSHABA

Avoidable deaths
When a married mother of two, called his causing, a medical doctor, in desperation, seeking help to terminate an unplanned pregnancy due to financial and career pressures, his immediate reaction was one of moral indignation. “God forbid,” he said, brushing off her plea. Little did he know, this rebuff would set off a chain of events leading to her tragic demise.

Recounting this sad and life changing experience, a Medical Practitioner, Dr. Fehintola Akintunde stated: “My educated cousin sought help from an unqualified provider. She was taken to a remote village where the procedure was done improperly. She developed severe complications and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta.

Continued: https://blueprint.ng/how-restrictive-reproductive-health-laws-endanger-womens-lives/

IPAS Partners NAWOJ To Enhance Reproductive Health Reporting

by Ayo Mukhail
June 6, 2024

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has collaborated with IPAS Nigeria Health Foundation (NHF) to improve reporting on Women’s Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (WSRHR).

A 2-day training session, held in Lagos on May 29-30, 2024, equipped women journalists with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively report on WSRHR issues. “The aim of this training is to build the capacity of NAWOJ leadership on WSRHR issues, ensuring women journalists have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively report on these issues,” said Mr. Lucky Palmer, Country Director of Partners for Reproductive Justice, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation.

Continued: https://insideoyo.com/ipas-partners-nawoj-to-enhance-reproductive-health-reporting/

Nigeria – NGO identifies unsafe abortion as major cause of maternal mortality

May 22, 2024

Lack of access to safe abortion has been identified as a major cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria.

This was the submission of a nongovernmental organisation, IPAS Nigeria at a research dissemination meeting in Abuja themed, “Building Legal Support to Address the Menace of Unsafe Abortions and Sexual Violence in Nigeria”.

Continued: https://radionigeria.gov.ng/2024/05/22/ngo-identifies-unsafe-abortion-as-major-cause-of-maternal-mortality/

22.05.2024

Nigeria – Ipas Donates Reproductive Health Commodities, Equipment To Kano Govt

Appolonia Adeyemi
Apr 26, 2024

Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation in partnership with the Kano State Ministry of Health, State Primary Healthcare Management Board, and Hospital Management Board has donated reproductive health commodities and equipment to the Kano State Government to strengthen the capacity of the healthcare system to reduce preventable deaths from unsafe abortions and provide quality post abortion care (PAC) services.

Unsafe abortions are one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria, contributing up to 15 per cent of maternal deaths. As part of the Government’s objectives to ending preventable maternal mortality, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation is working in Kano State to support healthcare systems with relevant health commodities including – Uterine pelvic models, Manual Vacuum Aspirators (MVA), and Medical Abortion Combipacks.

Continued: https://newtelegraphng.com/ipas-donates-reproductive-health-commodities-equipment-to-kano-govt/

Nigeria: Unsafe abortion: Taming a leading, silent killer

Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
March 18, 2024

There have been complaints about the rate at which women and girls die as a result of unsafe abortions. To tame this silent killer, experts and stakeholders in the Sexual Reproductive Health sector converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to ruminate on how to do more for women and girls. YINKA ADENIRAN looks at the issue and efforts to tame the menace of unsafe abortion among women and girls.

For months, Sola Oduwole (pseudonym) could not forgive herself. She felt guilty as she felt she had a role to play in what had befallen her family. She just lost a sister (Olawunmi) who underwent surgery to cut off one of her breasts after she was diagnosed of breast cancer. Painfully, she died weeks after the surgery.

Continued: https://thenationonlineng.net/unsafe-abortion-taming-a-leading-silent-killer/

Nigeria – Interview: 2024 health budget of N1trn will barely scratch the surface, says expert

Dec 16, 2023
In 2017, Nigeria’s maternal mortality hit 917 per 100,000 births. Three years later, the figures surged by nearly 14 percent to 1,047 deaths, ranking among the world’s highest. With each spike, it is a bleak canvas of despair for countless Nigerian women seeking to bring life into the world.

With the conclusion of the 16 days of activism, Lucky Palmer, country director of Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, spoke with TheCable’s CLAIRE MOM to shed light on the factors that contributed to the country’s high maternal mortality rate and offered practical steps that can be taken to ensure every woman’s right to safe childbirth.

Continued: https://www.thecable.ng/interview-2024-health-budget-of-n1tn-will-barely-scratch-surface-says-expert

16.12.2023