The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) in partnership with IPAS yesterday marches to sensitized women on the risk of unsafe abortion in celebration of the International Women’s Day.
The president of (NCWS), Dr Gloria Laraba Shoda emphasized that unsafe abortion has caused about 70,000 deaths worldwide which has been fueled by socio-economic vices in the societies.
She noted that the few reasons for maternal deaths are due to unsafe and unhealthy abortion care in the country.
"Today I urge women to embrace the use of contraceptives in order to reduce the indices of unwanted pregnancies which lead to unsafe abortion" she said.
She added that NCWS would play its part in sensitizing young women on unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion therefore reducing the cause of maternal deaths.
Country’s director for IPAS, Barr. Hauwa Shekarau noted that Nigeria has a high level of unintended pregnancies which are resolved by abortion.
”It is imperative to state at this point that the major contributor to unsafe abortion in Nigeria is the law which is quite restrictive and do not even take into deliberation the plight of the woman who was raped and becomes pregnant of such rape”. She said.
She added that Nigeria maternal mortality ratios of 576 deaths per 100,000 with at least 13% are attributed to unsafe abortion while calling on the National Assembly giving the gender and equal opportunities bill deserved hearing and passage.
