The Women Advocates and Research Documentation Centre (WARDC) has ramped up its advocacy for immediate actions to address maternal fatalities associated with unsafe abortions and societal pressures affecting women’s reproductive health.
During a film screening in Lagos on Monday, Mary George-Peluola, the Programme Director of WARDC, highlighted the necessity for better access to safe reproductive health services.
The organization presented the film To Ba Se Wo to emphasize the struggles faced by women and the pressing necessity for cooperative efforts.
“Maternal deaths are still claiming far too many lives, and unsafe abortions are a significant factor in this ongoing crisis,” stated Ms. George
Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser on Health for Lagos State, pointed out that many women in Nigeria either lose their lives or suffer long-term complications due to unsafe abortions. She highlighted that these deaths frequently result from insufficient policies or social obstacles.
Moriam Jagun, the Director of the Centre for Bridging Health Gaps (CBHGaps), emphasized the alarming number of fatalities resulting from unsafe abortions in Nigeria, highlighting that around 6,000 women lose their lives each year, which averages to about 500 deaths monthly.
According to Ms. Jagun, 500 fatalities each month due to unsafe abortions cannot be equated to 500 votes, highlighting the critical necessity for systemic reforms to preserve lives.
The screening event brought together stakeholders who pledged to amplify concerns and push for policies to improve maternal health and family planning services.
