Ogun Stakeholders Launch Initiative Against Unsafe Abortions

Behind the staggering statistics of maternal mortality in Nigeria lie the quiet, often tragic stories of women who, driven by fear or lack of information, turn to the shadows for medical help. In a decisive move to change this narrative, medical experts and community leaders gathered in Abeokuta on Friday to issue a clear, urgent plea: stop patronizing quacks.

The one-day intensive training, designed for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), focused on the critical intersection of reproductive health and the reduction of unsafe abortions a leading, yet preventable, cause of death among women in the region.

A Call for Professionalism and Referral

Dr. Deborah Osisanwo, President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Ogun State branch, addressed the heart of the crisis. She emphasized that while the urge to help might be present, the lack of medical training among “quacks” is a death sentence for patients.

“Every life is important, especially that of mothers,” Dr. Osisanwo stated. She issued a direct appeal to those operating outside the medical profession: “Please, if you don’t know how to do it… once you see a case of abortion, kindly refer them to secondary facilities. We will be happy if you do that, and we are going to save the life of that mother.”

To bridge the gap between fear and professional care, the state government has recently launched an abridged, “pocket-sized” version of the STOP guidelines. These guidelines are designed to provide a legal and clinical framework that protects both the patient and the physician, ensuring that life-saving care is delivered within the bounds of the law.

Breaking the Silence of Stigma

The danger of unsafe abortions isn’t just clinical; it’s social. Victoria Madukwe, Executive Director of the Trust and Support Foundation, highlighted the devastating psychological toll of stigmatization. According to Madukwe, many women resort to dangerous procedures in secret, while others are driven to suicide to avoid the societal shame often attached to reproductive health crises.

“The essence of the training is to let CSOs understand that there is a high level of unsafe abortion going on in the communities,” Madukwe explained. She noted that the new STOP guidelines are a game-changer, placing doctors on “the right side of the law” and providing a shield against harassment from security agencies who may not be familiar with current medical protocols.

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From the Training Room to the Wards

The success of this initiative rests on its ability to reach the most remote corners of the state. Dapo Wahaab, State Chairman of the Ward Development Committee (WDC), Ogun State Council, committed to a massive grassroots mobilization effort.

The goal is to carry the message of safe reproductive health to all 236 wards across Ogun’s 20 local government areas.

“We have women champions in our wards,” Wahaab said. “As mobilisers, they will go to Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Committees (CDCs) to pass the message to our people. This is an eye-opener.”

By empowering community leaders to educate their neighbors, stakeholders hope to dismantle the culture of secrecy that leads women to quacks, replacing it with a system of safe, professional, and compassionate medical care.