Women, girls urged to seek post-abortion care
Mzimba District Health Office post-abortion care coordinator Gracian Masewo has encouraged women and girls in the district to timely seek post-abortion care services to reduce the risk of complications.
Speaking on Friday in Mzimba when Family Planning Association of Malawi (Fpam) organised open days to sensitise communities in traditional authorities (T/As) M’Mbelwa and Chindi to post-abortion care, he said most women and girls use sharp objects such as sticks to terminate pregnancy which results in complications .
Said Masewo: “Much as abortion is prohibited and punishable in the country, a lot of girls and women are opting for unsafe abortion.
“Last month, we lost a young woman due to severe bleeding resulting from unsafe abortion complications.”
Mzimba Youth Network chairperson Emily Nyirenda said they are raising awareness on post-abortion care.
“We are reaching out to fellow youths, men and women on post-abortion care and how they can prevent unplanned pregnancies by accessing family planning services,” she said.
Christina Ndolo, a mother of four from T/A M’Mbelwa, said authorities should consider adopting the Termination of Pregnancy Bill to save lives of women and girls.
Fpam project manager Gelard Maulidi said their project is raising awareness about post-abortion care and abortion law reforms.
The organisation is implementing a Wish 2 Action Post-Abortion Care Advocacy Project in Mzimba District that seeks to improve access to quality post-abortion care and modern contraception in an enabling environment
