Akanni Akinyemi, a Demography professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, has urged traditional and religious leaders to unite in preventing needless deaths among young girls due to unsafe abortions.
Speaking in Ibadan during the National Forum on Unintended Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in Nigeria, organized by the Partnership for Advancing Abortion Research and Reducing Unsafe Abortion in Nigeria, Akinyemi stressed the importance of addressing the high mortality rate among young girls and women resulting from unsafe abortions.
He emphasized the collective responsibility of various stakeholders, including educators, religious leaders, and communities, in tackling the issue.
Akinyemi highlighted the need for open discussions and collaboration to safeguard the lives of young girls and women, emphasizing that blaming the government alone is not constructive.
President of the Population Association of Nigeria, Ebingha Enang, underscored the urgency of the situation, citing alarming statistics on unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions in Nigeria. He stressed the importance of advocacy to educate adolescents and ensure the protection of women’s lives.
Professor Ademola Ajuwon of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, reiterated the prevalence of unintended pregnancies as a significant reproductive health challenge in Nigeria, attributing it to the lack of effective contraception use.
Oyo State Family Planning Coordinator, Adeola Awakan, highlighted government efforts to make family planning services accessible to all who require them.
The forum served as a platform to address critical reproductive health issues and advocate for the well-being of women and adolescents across Nigeria.
