Hope for Girls and Women executive director Eliza Malinda has emphasised the importance of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill yet to be tabled in Parliament.
Once passed into law, women will be at liberty to seek abortion services from health facilities. The Bill’s proponents argue that the law will save lives of many women and girls who are resorting to unsafe abortions.
saving lives. | Wisdom Chirombo
Speaking on Tuesday at the group village head Linkata in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kuntaja in Blantyre when they engaged community members to get their views on the Bill, Malinda said it was important for Parliament to look at the Bill from the perspective of saving lives of women and girls that are dying due to unsafe abortion.
“We understand that people
have different opinions about the Bill as some think it is sin to conduct safe abortion. But in our view, it is important to have the Bill passed to save the lives of women turning to unsafe abortions,” she said.
Village head Gopani said it was crucial for the country to have a law legalising abortion to save lives.
“There are various traditional methods of abortion that women use
which are harmful. So, if the Bill becomes a law, it means such practices will end and women will access safe abortion in hospitals,” he said.
One of the participants, Catarina Piason, supported the passing of the Bill.
Hope for Girls and Women is implementing the project with funding from Amplify Change through the Alliance for Youth SRHR Organisations in Malawi.
