Uganda: Doctors Want Abortion Made Legal

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New Vision (Kampala)

16 June 2008
Posted to the web 17 June 2008

Chris Ocowun
Kampala

PARLIAMENT should pass a law allowing induced abortion among young school girls in the war-ravaged north to reduce the high death rate of expectant mothers, medical doctors in Gulu have appealed.

"Fewer girls die of abortion in countries where it is legal compared to countries like Uganda where the practice is prohibited. Maternal mortality rate would reduce by 15% or more," said Dr. Charles Engenye, a gynaecologist of Gulu regional referral hospital.

However, Dr. Freddie Oyat, a public health specialist and visiting lecturer at Gulu University's faculty of medicine, emphasised that the abortion should be done by the qualified.

The doctors were addressing print and radio journalists from Acholi and Lango sub-regions at Gulu University's faculty of medicine.

This was during a health journalism workshop organised by Vision Group and Knight International Journalism Fellowship in together with the faculty.

Engenye noted that many adolescents had died while carrying out abortion for fear of being punished by their parents or the law.

"Whereas 435 out of 100,000 mothers die in Uganda while giving birth, 700 out of 100,000 die in the north," he said.

The doctors attributed the high maternal mortality on too much bleeding, abortion, obstructed labour and hypertensive disorders.

Relevant Links East Africa Children and Youth Health and Medicine Legal and Judicial Affairs Pregnancy and Childbirth Uganda

Many girls have also been defiled or raped by the LRA rebels and other men who take advantage of them due to the war situation.

The dean of the faculty, Prof. Emilio Ovuga, urged journalists to report accurately on health issues in the region to influence Government policies and attract donors funding.

He pledged the cooperation of doctors in assisting the scribes. "Journalists and doctors should network and share ideas," said The New Vision assistant news editor, Kenneth Oluka.

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