DOES UGANDAN LAW REALLY GIVE ROOM FOR SAFE ABORTION?

By www.mknewslink.com

In Mbarara—

Safe abortion is heavily restricted in Uganda, yet gender inequality and sexual violence are widespread.

Abortion in Uganda is illegal unless performed by a licensed medical doctor in a situation where the woman’s life is deemed to be at risk.

Dr. Waswa Salongo a senior consultant obstetrician gynecologist says safe Abortion can be done when the continuation of the Pregnancy is likely to cause health problems such as growly abnormal pregnancies below 22 weeks (5months).

However, Ugandan law explicitly allows abortion to save a woman’s life. The 2006 National Policy Guidelines and Service Standards for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights go even further—permitting abortion under additional circumstances, including in cases of fetal anomaly, rape and incest, or if the woman is HIV-positive.

Yet, existing laws and policies on abortion are interpreted inconsistently by law enforcement and the judicial system, which makes it difficult for women and the medical community to understand when abortion is permitted.

The gynecologist says that as a result, many women don’t know where to turn for support, don’t know what the law allows, or they are too worried about the stigma associated with abortion to even ask for help. This lack of knowledge and fear of judgment is putting lives at risk.

Because of this obscurity, the medical providers themselves are often reluctant to perform an abortion for any reason, out of fear of legal

Dr. Justus Ampeire of St. Augustus medical care Mbarara says that for this, women have opted for JIK or Omo to carry out abortion which only puts their lives at risk and normally rush to clinics when they are already in danger.

He explained that some even take boiled alcohol while others insert traditional herbs such as oxalis Latifollia into their private pains then to the uterus but end up excessively breeding

Even those that are willing to give it a try charge high prices though drugs and other requirements are cheaper or at no costs in government facilities.

However, Dr. Ampeire defends that safe abortion process itself is expensive since the Carrier needs to eat well and may sometimes need blood as most of them normally bleed a lot.

Costs a side, the victims find procedures followed not friendly for instance, Dr. Wassa reveals that for safe abortion to take place there must be another doctor who is not involved in the process, civilian such as someone related to the victim whom the victim must first convince to permit the abortion plus the carrier (mother) and the father of the fetus must wholesomely agree on the process.

Reports say that 50 percent of women who carryout abortion do not follow the rightful process but instead rush to hospital after things have run out of hands such as severe bleeding and infections which need critical attention from medics.

Dr. Ampeire says that at least 302 women at the health facility opted for safe abortion in this year 2021 (Jan-June) and 70 percent of the women were from the districts in Rwizi region that is Mbarara,Ntungamo,Ibanda, Kiruhura , Rwampara, Kazo.

Jennifer (not real name) a patient notes that she was diagnosed with Cardiac arrest when she was three months gone and started having healthy complications such as severe bleeding which forced her to abort her baby.

After the abortion process, mothers are usually given classified attention termed as post abortion care since the act can take the life of a mother when handled carelessly.

“I opted for a safe abortion from a clinic around Mbarara city before coming for post Abortion care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital where am still receiving medical attention,” Jennifer disclosed.

Ampeire notes that in most cases patients are traumatized so they need some support such as counselling from trained health workers.

Dr. Waswa somehow praises non-governmental organizations such as Marie stopes in that they have stepped in to sensitize people about contraceptive methods.

With contraceptives like emergency pills, cases of pregnancies as a result of incest or rape have been minimized.

The doctor however cautions victims that in case there is severe bleeding that don’t stop in 3-4 days, Smelly discharge from private parts, abdominal pains or feeling like one is still pregnant, she should rush back to the hospital because these are some of the abnormalities related to abortion.

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