Several lobby groups have urged the Government to prioritise the provision of reproductive health services in public health facilities to protect the lives of women and young girls.
The groups—which included Centre for Reproductive Rights, Women Collective Kenya, Marie Stopes Kenya, Kelin, Reproductive Justice Watch and Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (Ticah) among others—warned that seven women—a majority of them young girls—were dying daily from unsafe abortion complications in Kenya.
Speaking during the observance of the International Safe Abortion day held in Nairobi’s Riruta Stadium yesterday, Tica programme coordinator Mickreen Adhiambo noted: “Unsafe abortion is among the top five leading causes of maternal mortality in Kenya.
“Currently, the government spends up to Sh533 million in the provision of Post Abortion Care services annually and there is need therefore to prioritise access to this services especially in informal settlements,” .
At the same time, Ms Adhiambo urged the Ministry of Health to reinstate the Standards and guidelines policies for the reduction of maternal mortality from unsafe abortion which was withdrawn in 2012.
Earlier, Women Collective Kenya (Head of programmes), Odhiambo Oyoko said a recent survey carried out by his organisation among young women living in 11 sub-counties in Nairobi’s informal settlements showed that only 38 per cent of those interviewed were able to access PAC services in level two and three hospitals while 62 per cent were unable to access the same.
“This is a major challenge and we therefore urge the County government to avail more resources to ensure all our public health facilities provide PAC services and adequate contraceptives to our young girls in a bid to reduce pregnancies and deaths from unsafe abortions,” Mr Oyoko added.
During the function, attendees also celebrated the life of a sex worker from the community who died last year after procuring an unsafe abortion.
At the same time, several football teams participated in a tournament dubbed “Kick Abortion Stigma Out”.
Meanwhile, an official from Marie Stopes Kenya said the organisation was currently partnering with several public health facilities in the provision of quality family planning and sexual reproductive health services to both women and men in various counties.
According to Save the Children’s Report (2019), Kenya is ranked as third-highest in teen pregnancies with 82 births per 1,000 births.
Experts say each year, 6,300 women die during pregnancy or childbirth in Kenya with unsafe abortions contributing close to 17 per cent of maternal deaths.
The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2014) for example, shows that girls between the ages of 15 and 18 years indulged in sex.
