THE Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Health, has unveiled a 40-page policy document on safe termination of pregnancy, tagged ‘Lagos State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications’.
According to media reports, the 40-page policy document sets out guidelines for safe termination of pregnancy within the confines of the criminal law of the state.
While presenting and launching the document at a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, explained that the policy document was produced to provide evidence-based data and information for health workers in public and private sectors who have the requisite skills and training necessary to provide safe terminations to reduce preventable deaths.
“In 2011, the Lagos State House of Assembly updated the criminal code, providing for abortion to save the life and protect the physical health of the woman. While physical health is covered under the Lagos legal framework, services conforming to the law have not been available in the Lagos State health sector.
“This document provides information on relevant laws applicable in Lagos State while providing standards and best practices with regards to legal indications, pre and post-procedure care, methods and monitoring. I must state here that this document has undergone wide consultation with relevant technical stakeholders within the legal and health service context in the State,” he said.
He pointed out that the advocacy messages on the Safe Engage project focused on two immediate outcomes including ensuring that safe abortion services were available within legal indications in Lagos and domesticating the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, supporting women to terminate a pregnancy caused by rape or incest.
Others who spoke at the event include the Country Director of Marie Stopes International Organisation Nigeria (MSION), Mr Emmanuel Ajah; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, Otukpo, Professor Innocent Ujah; and a Professor of Law at the University of Lagos, Ayodele Atsenuwa.
