Malawi loses women, girls to unsafe abortions
Women and girls in the country continue to die needlessly because they seek back-door abortion services, mostly from non-medical officers, a medical expert has said.
Dr Chisale Mhango of College of Medicine told journalists in Zomba on Monday at a day-long workshop organised by Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa-Malawi) that due to lack of enabling laws, safe abortion services are not available; hence women and girls opt for unsafe abortions.
Ipas Malawi funded the workshop that targeted editors and reporters from both print and electronic media.
Mhango said in Malawi, in 2009, it was estimated that 67 271 induced abortions occurred.
Mhango said World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that one in every four women having abortions is likely to face severe complications that can result in death.
