Unsafe abortion threatens women’s health 

By Lewis S. Teh

 A 2023 report released by the Ministry of Health revealed that about 38,779 induced abortions took place in Liberia in 2021.

The Ministry released the report in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), and Guttmacher.

This translates to an induced abortion rate of 30.7 per 1,000 women of reproductive age and an induced abortion ratio of 229 abortions per 1,000 live births.

This alarming data has prompted an important conversation about the need for affordable and easily accessible sexual and reproductive health services in Liberia.

It also considers safe abortion practices to prevent women and girls from dying from unsafe abortion care.

Some people, especially religious and traditional leaders, believe that these practices are contrary to biblical teachings and African tradition.

The public health law is presently being reviewed by the Liberian Senate, with a particular emphasis on the legality of safe abortion. 

Different sectors, including religious leaders, health professionals, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), have responded to this legislative measure in different ways. 

The interplay of reproductive rights, moral issues, and women’s and girls’ health and well-being is the main topic of discussion. 

Ms. Noami Tulay-Solanke, a member of the advocacy working group leading the campaign on the passage of the new public health law said women’s autonomy, equality, and health are all dependent on the recognition of reproductive rights, which is why CSOs and health professionals support them. 

They contend that to stop hazardous, covert operations that jeopardize women’s lives and disproportionately affect underprivileged populations, access to safe and legal abortions is crucial. 

The proposed amendment respects women’s rights to safe abortion, contraception, and childbirth by allowing abortion under specific circumstances, such as when the mother’s health is at risk due to the pregnancy or in cases of rape or incest. 

These conditions are in line with the principles of the Maputo Protocol. The CSO advocacy working group is forming coalitions and networking to get the support of “pro-life” and “pro-choice” people to prevent women and young girls from losing their lives to this threat.

This is in addition to pressuring the national government to take this new public health law under consideration for passage.

The organization over the weekend concluded a four-day capacity-building workshop for journalists in this area to encourage them to report about Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and/or abortion services using greater evidence.

The goal of the workshop according to Naomi Tulay, Executive Director of Community Health Initiative, is to improve moral and values-based behavior within the media organization.

She said it is intended to promote a responsible and constructive influence on public opinion about journalism and the reporting of topics on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women.

“We thought it wise that over the years in as much as we are advocating for a safe space as it relates to sexual reproductive health and rights, particularly women’s rights to their body anatomy, we needed to partner with the media,” she noted.

“We believe that women should have direction over their bodies because they are the ones going through the situation and we are of the strong conviction that the media is going to play a huge part,” said Ms. Leila Precious Dolo, Executive Director of Help and Mother and Newborn Initiative.

She said if the media are aware of the issue, they can reach the message to thousands of people across the country and they can be able to shift the mindset of the people on the SRHR issues.