Group urges Lagos to act on safe abortion as maternal deaths rise

By Diana Omueza

The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) Africa has appealed to the Lagos State Government to reinstate its suspended Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) guidelines.

Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, WARDC Africa’s Founding Director, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, said reinstating the guidelines would help reduce maternal deaths caused by unsafe procedures.

NAN reports that World Abortion Day is observed globally on 28 September to raise awareness about unsafe abortion, which, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), remains a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality worldwide.

Akiyode-Afolabi emphasised that the STOP policy was crucial in reducing maternal deaths and protecting the health rights of women and girls.

According to her, the continued suspension of the STOP guidelines hinders the realisation of fundamental rights and puts the lives of countless women at risk.

“Our plea to the Lagos State Government is simply to lift the suspension on the STOP guidelines immediately.

“The guidelines on safe termination of pregnancy for legal indications were a landmark step towards standardising medical practice and building the capacity of healthcare personnel to provide safe care within the existing legal framework in Lagos State.

“The suspension undermines the essential objective of saving women from preventable deaths and denies victims of sexual and gender-based violence, such as rape and incest survivors, the comprehensive medical services that are their right.”

She noted that for survivors of rape and incest, access to safe termination of pregnancy was not merely a medical procedure, but a pathway to reclaiming bodily autonomy, mental health, and the right to a life of dignity.

She added that the guidelines also serve as a mechanism to free victims from the ongoing trauma of forced pregnancy.

However, she stated that the current legal impasse leaves many women vulnerable to unsafe procedures, which contribute significantly to Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate.

She appealed to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to lift the suspension and allow medical professionals to provide care confidently within the law, while ensuring standardised post-abortion treatment.

“The law would ensure that the guidelines explicitly cater to survivors of rape and incest, recognising the grave physical and psychological risks of forced pregnancy in such cases.

“It will prioritise women’s health and rights over political or religious sentiments, and recognise that the guidelines are a public health imperative to prevent avoidable maternal deaths.

“WARDC remains committed to working with the Lagos State Government and all relevant stakeholders to uphold the human rights of women and girls in Nigeria,” she said.

Akiyode-Afolabi also commended states that have demonstrated progressive leadership by actively implementing similar guidelines, or taking steps to clarify provisions that enable women to access their sexual and reproductive health rights within the boundaries of the law.

She noted that such steps are vital to protecting women’s lives and upholding their fundamental rights.

(NAN)