Unsafe Abortion: Stakeholders Demand Action as Women, Girls Die in Silence

WARDC seeks restoration of Lagos guideline, stronger healthcare access, counselling and grassroots advocacy

Stakeholders at a memorial and advocacy meeting in Lagos have called for urgent and coordinated action to tackle unsafe abortion and other unsafe maternal health practices blamed for preventable deaths among women and girls.

The stakeholders, including government officials, medical practitioners, civil society advocates, journalists and bereaved family members, said stigma, lack of information, inadequate support and poor access to appropriate healthcare continued to put vulnerable women and girls at risk.

The screening of a documentary, titled ‘She Was Here’ and the advocacy meeting was organised by the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in collaboration with the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria (SOGON) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos Chapter, in memory of women and girls whose lives were lost to preventable causes associated with unsafe termination of pregnancy.

The Executive Chair of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, urged the Lagos State Government to restore its suspended guideline on the safe termination of pregnancy, saying the policy was developed to address preventable maternal deaths and provide appropriate medical guidance.

Akiyode-Afolabi said women should not be left to quacks or dangerous alternatives because of fear, stigma or lack of access to professional support.

She said the consequences of unsafe abortion were not limited to death, as survivors could suffer physical injuries, psychological trauma, mental health challenges and social stigma.

“Women are dying in droves,” she said, calling for greater visibility and sustained action to reduce maternal mortality.

The call for policy action was echoed by medical experts at the event.

The Second Vice Chairman of the NMA, Lagos, Dr. Olabisi Olanrewaju, said the figures surrounding maternal mortality were already known, but urged stakeholders to focus on practical solutions.

She called for wider access to contraception and professional healthcare, stressing that unwanted pregnancies remained a reality that society must address.

Olanrewaju also advocated continued dialogue, policy review and access to experts for women who become pregnant and require appropriate care.

Project Coordinator of SOGON Lagos, Adaora Ekekwe, called for greater awareness and implementation of existing medical guidelines, particularly where a woman's life is at risk.

She said some healthcare professionals were still reluctant to provide medically indicated care because of fear, while stressing the importance of listening to patients and properly assessing their physical and mental health.

Ekekwe also identified the absence of an effective referral system as a challenge, warning that cases could become more dangerous when women delay seeking appropriate medical attention.

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda, admitted that government efforts alone were not enough to address the problem.

Dauda pledged to partner with WARDC on advocacy and community mobilisation, disclosing that Ikeja Local Government has five primary healthcare centres, two of which operate 24 hours.

He said poor awareness remained a major challenge despite the availability of healthcare facilities and counsellors.

The council chairman also called on religious leaders, parents and other community stakeholders to become more involved in educating young people.

“We are doing our best, but I know our best is not enough,” Dauda said.

Representing the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, Suliat Olaniyan also stressed the importance of grassroots awareness and professional counselling.

She said every woman and girl deserved access to safe, quality and respectful healthcare, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth.

Olaniyan urged parents to create an environment where children could discuss sensitive issues without fear, warning that young people sometimes rely on friends or unqualified sources for advice about pregnancy and healthcare.

She also called for stronger counselling services, saying professional counsellors could help individuals navigate difficult situations and make informed decisions.

The emotional impact of unsafe maternal health practices was brought to the fore by family members who featured in a memorial documentary presented at the event.

Some relatives recalled how stigma, shame and fear prevented young women and girls from speaking openly about unwanted pregnancies or seeking help.

One family member said many girls remain silent because they do not know where to go or who to trust, while another recalled the devastating loss of a young relative who became critically ill before the family fully understood what was happening.

The families called for accessible and confidential support systems that would encourage women and girls to seek professional help before their situations become life-threatening.

Journalist Juliana Francis also called for the media to become more deliberate in reporting unsafe abortion and maternal health issues.

Francis said her investigation into the subject exposed the extent of the crisis and revealed cases involving young girls who died after resorting to unsafe methods.

She urged newsrooms to treat the issue as a societal concern rather than a women's issue, saying male and female journalists should work together with civil society organisations to sustain public awareness.

The General Secretary of Interfaith Public Health Advocacy, Lagos State, Rev. Joe Ihihitgbulem, acknowledged the emotional and sensitive nature of abortion while stressing the importance of protecting the life of the mother when a pregnancy threatens her survival.

Another stakeholder also raised legal concerns surrounding government responsibilities towards women facing maternal health challenges, arguing that better medical and psychological support could prevent many deaths.

The stakeholders agreed that preventing maternal deaths would require a coordinated response involving government, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, religious institutions, parents, communities and the media.

The meeting ended with a minute of silence in honour of the women and girls whose lives had been lost, as participants renewed calls for stronger systems to ensure that preventable maternal deaths do not continue.