On August 25, Moses Odongo received a call informing him that his 14-year-old cousin, Christine, had died attempting to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, shedding light on the dangers of unsafe abortions in Uganda. Odongo, the founder of Family Medical Point, believes that restrictive abortion laws and conservative culture in the country played a role in Christine’s death.
Abortion is highly restricted in Uganda, with unclear laws and severe penalties for those involved in the procedure. The confusion and fear of imprisonment has led to women resorting to extreme and dangerous measures to terminate pregnancies. Doctors who provide post-abortion care are also ostracised in Ugandan society.
In the face of these challenges, activists are working to challenge Uganda’s laws and broaden access to health services. International Safe Abortion Day on September 28 is a crucial moment for raising awareness about the dangers of unsafe abortions and advocating for reproductive rights in the country.
One of the initiatives marking this day is an outreach programme by Family Medical Point to educate sex workers on the dangers of unsafe abortion. The emotional toll of unsafe abortions is felt by many in Uganda, with women like Irene Nakate sharing their traumatic experiences with unsafe procedures.
As activists continue to push for change, they are met with opposition from religious and political leaders who advocate for even more restrictive abortion policies. Despite the challenges, activists are determined to fight for women’s reproductive rights and ensure that no more lives are lost due to unsafe abortions in Uganda.
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