MoH swings, misses on abortions
Thursday, July 28, 2016
As commendable as these new methods are in the fight against unwanted pregnancies, long-term statistics around overall maternal health indicate that authorities are swinging and missing with regards to unsafe abortions.
The AIDS Impact Survey of 2011 found that 50.2 percent of pregnancies countrywide were unplanned for, while complications from abortions were the third highest cause of maternal deaths in 2014. A study conducted in Francistown between 2007 and 2009 found that 35 percent of pregnancies were unwanted and no doubt similar or even higher rates can be found in Gaborone.
The recent Vaccination Day in Motokwe, orchestrated through collaborative efforts between UNICEF, USAID, BRCS, and the Ministry of Health, underscores a commendable stride towards fortifying child health services.The painful reality as reflected by the Ministry of Health's data regarding the decline in routine immunisation coverage since the onset of the pandemic, is a cause for concern.It underscores the urgent need to address the...