The Ogun State Government has reiterated its commitment to implementing the Safe Termination of Pregnancy (SToP) guidelines, aimed at providing safe, legal abortion services within the boundaries permitted by Nigerian law, saying that the renewed assurance strengthens the state’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality by ensuring access to medically supervised and rights-based reproductive healthcare services.
The Executive Secretary, Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, stated this at a seminar organized by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Center for Bridging Health Gaps in Abeokuta, noting that the move aligns with ongoing strategies to address the health and safety risks associated with unsafe abortion, particularly among women in low- and middle-income communities.
Speaking on the theme “Breaking Barriers to Safe Termination of Pregnancy to Save Lives”, Dr. Ogunsola, emphasized the urgent need to address unsafe abortion as a public health crisis. He highlighted that unsafe abortion remains one of the top five direct causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria, with an alarming 97 percent of such cases occurring among women from low- and middle-income backgrounds, and noting that these preventable deaths are often the result of limited access to accurate information, safe services, and stigma surrounding reproductive health.
He further affirmed that the Ogun State Government was committed to working collaboratively with key stakeholders ncluding healthcare professionals, civil society organizations, and legal experts towards strengthening the implementation of the Safe Termination of Pregnancy (SToP) guidelines, saying that the right to access safe abortion care, within legal boundaries, was supported by provisions in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to him, this constitutional backing reinforces the state’s responsibility to protect the health and rights of women and girls through lawful and medically safe reproductive health services.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of the Center for Bridging Health Gaps, Dr. Moriam Jagun, described unsafe abortion as one of the most preventable causes of death, yet one that continues to endanger the lives and futures of vulnerable women and girls.
She noted that across Nigeria and West Africa, discussions around abortion are often hindered by stigma and silence. Dr. Jagun reaffirmed the need for a collective commitment to safeguarding women's health, rights, and dignity through access to safe, legal, and quality abortion services.
She called on governments, policymakers, healthcare professionals, legal experts, faith leaders, and civil society to work collaboratively to improve access to evidence-based, life-saving care, as there were various existing opportunities for women to make choices which are right -based and within the legal framework.
Speaking during the panel session on Strengthening Abortion Services as Life-saving care, Director, Citizens Rights Department, Mrs Oluwakemi Lawal stated that case where abortion can be legally performed included pregnancy that poses a danger to the mother's life or physical health such as rape, cancer, incest among others also noting that termination should be performed by qualified health professionals in a safe and hygienic condition.
Representative Of Society of Gynecologist and Obsetrician of Nigeria (SOGON), Dr. Olusoji Jagun said a safe abortion upholds women's rights to make informed decisions about their reproductive health without fear of legal repercussions or social sigma, also noted that there should be increase public awareness of the Safe Termination Of Pregnancy( STOP) guidelines and importance of safe abortion services.
Participants at the Seminar, Mrs Madinat Aderibigbe and Mr Adesina Adefolahan urged government to ensure the implementation of the STOP guidelines in reducing Maternal Mortality, providing Access to Safe Care and supporting Women's Rights, also advocated for more awareness in schools and on social platforms as well as community awareness through community leaders.
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