Family Medical Point, a nonprofit organization in Uganda, is mourning the death of a 14-year-old girl named Christine who died attempting to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Founder Moses Odongo blames Uganda’s restrictive abortion laws and conservative culture for her death and believes that lack of sex education played a role. Despite conflicting laws in the country, abortion is highly restricted and both women seeking the procedure and doctors providing it can face criminal prosecution.
Doctors fear imprisonment and turn away women seeking care, leading many to resort to dangerous methods to terminate pregnancies. This has resulted in high numbers of deaths from unsafe abortions, with one report from the Ministry of Health stating that 8 percent of maternal deaths in Uganda are due to unsafe abortions. Doctors providing post-abortion care also face stigma and ostracization in society.
International Safe Abortion Day is being observed in Uganda with activities such as information sessions and distribution of contraceptives. Advocates are working to challenge Uganda’s abortion laws and improve access to safe healthcare services. However, the cultural context in Uganda poses challenges for activists working to promote reproductive rights. With stories like Christine’s and others who have died from unsafe abortions, advocates are pushing for clear laws and access to safe reproductive health resources to prevent unnecessary deaths.
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