MPs want to legalise abortions for unwanted pregnancies

Speaking during an advocacy workshop on HIV and Aids in Gweru recently chairperson of the Health and Child Care portfolio committee and Matabeleland North province legislator Dr Ruth Labode said it was reasonable to allow safe abortions in unwanted pregnancies amid revelations that 16 percent of maternal deaths were due to unsafe abortions.

Said Labode:

We cannot continue denying these young women access to safe abortions, yet we know they will still proceed to abort, whether it is allowed or not. Complications of unsafe abortions include excessive bleeding and infections, which may all lead to hysterectomy (complete removal of the uterus) or death in worst case scenarios. So, we can continue watching our women die from things that we know.

However, former deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Paul Chimedza said that he would oppose the motion to legalise abortion to apply to everyone and not just victims of rape and incest. Ministry of Health and Child Care director for Family Health Dr Bernard Madzima argued that there was no difference in statistics for countries that had legalised abortion.

More: Herald