Sisterspeak237 advocates family planning to curb unsafe abortion in Cameroon

Statistics show that 30% of maternal deaths in Cameroon are as a result of complications of unsafe abortions.

Among reasons cited for this, are the tedious administrative procedure women that become pregnant as a result of rape or those whose pregnancy places their lives at risk of death have to go through to commit abortion, as permitted by Cameroon’s penal code.

Sisterspeak237 examines that “…all these barriers cause unsafe abortion to continue to prevail in secrecy”.

Maternal mortality in Cameroon has reduced from 782 deaths per 100.000 live births to 406 deaths per 100.000(DHS 2012-2018).

This however is an indication that Cameroon has not yet attained the third sustainable development goal of having less than 70 maternal deaths per 100.000 live births.

To reverse the situation, Sisterspeak237 is advocating for the rights of women. It says many issues need to be addressed most especially that of educating people with information on the availability of safe abortion service.

Therefore, a campaign code named “Access to Maternal Health” has been launched to create awareness through sensitization on the dangers of unsafe abortion.

Secondly, the campaign is to urge Cameroonians and policymakers to reflect on the need to act urgently to reduce maternal deaths linked to unsafe abortion.

According to Prof.Dohbit Sama, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, strategies need to be put in place to reduce maternal deaths.

“Pregnant women to follow antenatal care so that early complications can be detected. Secondly, women must be assisted during delivery by confirmed health personnel and thirdly, family planning is adviced. The use of modern contraceptive methods can reduce unplanned pregnancies as it help women to program when to become pregnant,” he says.

As members of Sisterspeak237 embark on a campaign for women to plan before getting pregnant, Cameroonians, men and women alike from different professions have joined the campaign aimed at reducing or possibly eradicating maternal deaths through safe abortion.