Global Media Foundation Trains Media Practitioners In The Brong Ahafo Region On Access To Safe Abortion And Contraceptive Services
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Global Media Foundation (GlomeF) a non-profit and anti-corruption
media advocacy organization, organized a day's workshop on the 9th
October, 2014, for media practitioners in the Brong-Ahafo region of
Ghana.
Over the years the reproductive health policy of Ghana on reduction of
unsafe abortion only dwelt on promotion of family planning,
contraception and post-abortion care but not provision of safe
abortion within the confine of the law as recommended by the World
Health Organization.
However termination of pregnancy to safe the mother's life in case of
serious medical conditions like hypertensive disorder and renal
failure, etc. the obstetric emergencies like acute homorrhage in
pregnancy have been in virtually all public and private hospitals in
Ghana.
According to statistics presented by the CEO of GlomeF, Mr. Raphael
Godlove Ahenu JR, 7% of all pregnancies end in abortion and 15% women
ages 15-49 have ever had abortion. About 15 abortions are performed
for every 1.000 women of reproductive age (15-44) each year.
"According to a study conducted in the late 1990 in Southen Ghana, 17
abortions are observed for every 1,000 women for reproductive age."
He cited that, while underreporting might compromise the accuracy of
induce abortion estimated, there is fairly clear evidence that 37% of
births in the country are unplanned – 23% are mistimed and 14% are
unwanted. "This means that, each year more than 300,000 infants are
born as a result of unintended pregnancies, hence this project to
increase young people awareness about contraceptive and safe abortion
related services.
Mr. Raphael Ahenu called on the government to promote access to safe
and legal abortion service for all women, to the full extent of the
law, and also publicize the availability of these services in
public-sector facilities and ensure that services are affordable for
poor and rural women.
He urged participants to create awareness on safe abortion and report
on abortion issues from a human rights perspective.
By: Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku (KOK)
