Medical Experts Harp On Reproductive Health of Women

Submitted by peterakpochafo on Thu, 06/30/2011 - 23:07

Following the persistent alarming maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, a call has gone to government at all levels and other stakeholders to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights of women are always placed on the front burner in both policy formulation and implementation.

The call was contained in several papers presented at the inaugural meeting of the Youth Wing of Post Abortion Care Network, PAC-Net, Imo State chapter, held at Trendy’s Hall, Owerri.
Speaking at the occasion, Prof. J.I.B.Adimma, South-East coordinator of PAC-Net, explained that sexual and reproductive health of women is an issue that should concern everybody, not women alone, in view of the far-reaching consequences to the larger society.

The medical expert who frowned at the poor attitude of government and stakeholders towards the issue of women’s reproductive health and rights, pointed out that the problem of ever increasing maternal mortality rate could not be checked if the youths were not made to appreciate the dangers of illicit and unprotected sex, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections, etc.

Adimma who observed that youths were handicapped and vulnerable on sexual/reproductive health issues, said that youths need information about their reproductive system, health and rights in order to live aright.
He stated that PAC-Net was a non-profit, non-governmental organisation in Nigeria concerned with reducing maternal mortality that result from incomplete and unsafe abortions and its associated complications with the view to enhancing women’s reproductive health and rights.

The South-East coordinator of PAC-Net disclosed that the essence of participation in the network is not intended to teach the participants how to do abortion or how it is done, but to expose them to the realities of the need to stay sexually safe always.

PAC-Net, Prof. Adimma noted, is an agency of Ipas which carries out advocacy, training of medical personnel, clinical services and research, adding that the network was established in 1996 by Ipas International.

In her keynote address, Dr Emily A. Nzeribe, Imo State PAC-Net coordinator, disclosed that attention was being focused on youths because more than 111million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infection,sSTIs, and 50 percent of all new HIV infections occur among young people every year.

She added that rates of reported sexual abuse in 19 countries range from 7-34 percent for girls and 3-29 percent for boys, while a young person commits suicide often due to emotional and social problems related to sexual and reproductive health, such as sexual violence and breakdown of relationships.

Dr Nzeribe, who told the young lads to always be vigilant about their sexual heath and rights to avoid abuse, notified them that going to quacks to obtain abortion or contraceptive services was unsafe and dangerous to their lives and future aspirations, urging also them to always seek counseling from experts.
Nigeria’s country director of Ipas, Dr Ejike Oji, in his paper titled, “A t Special Risk; Nigerian Youth” noted that the current restrictive abortion laws of the country contribute to the high maternal mortality rate.
Represented by Chudi Ene, Dr Oji called on all to pay attention to the sexual/reproductive health of women especially the young girls and review of the current abortion law describing it is obsolete.

By Athan Agbakwuru

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