Health stakeholders have called for the reformation of abortion laws to curb unsafe practices and reduce maternal mortality in the country.
They argued that these restrictive laws hampered healthcare providers ability and prevent women from accessing trained doctors without hindrance.
The call was made at a 2-day strategic training of journalists on women’s reproductive health and rights, organized by Trust and Support Foundation (TSF) and Amplify Change in Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
The group also urged State Governments to adopt and implement the Safe Termination of Pregnancies (STOP) guidelines to ensure girls and women can access safe medical abortion services beyond cases where their lives are at risk.
The Executive Director TSF, Mrs Victoria Madukwen, in her address, commended the Ogun state government for adopting the STOP guidelines, and called for proper implementation and awareness across that state.
She, however, stated that some gaps were identified in the document and called for additional exemptions, stressing that rape, incest, gender-based violence and mental health were omitted.
According to her, women deserve access to qualified healthcare workers for safe abortion care, rather than risking their lives with quacks whose unprofessional procedures result in complications.
She disclosed that in many communities, discussions around sexual and reproductive health and rights, abortion, maternal health, gender-based violence, and access to reproductive health information are surrounded in silence, fear, and judgment, urging journalists to use their platforms to shift the narrative by reporting stories that promote understanding and protect women’s health.
“The media remains one of the most powerful tools for public awareness, social change, and accountability. The stories you tell, the language you use, the questions you ask, and the narratives you promote can either reinforce stigma and misinformation or open the door for compassion, evidence-based discussion, and policy reform.
“Through accurate, ethical, balanced, and rights-based reporting, you can help the public understand that reproductive health is not merely a private issue; it is a public health, human rights, and development issue.
“This training will also provide a platform to deepen understanding of the Maputo Protocol, the STOP framework, state-level SRHR advocacy efforts, and the importance of amplifying public and political support for laws and policies that protect the health and rights of women and girls,” she added.
The guest speaker at the training, Wemimo Adewunmi, stated that full implementation of STOP by state governments would save women from preventable deaths.
She urged journalists to use a rights-based lens when reporting sexual reproductive health and rights issues to prevent further stigmatization and harm on victims.
“Journalists must be better equipped to challenge harmful narratives, avoid stigmatizing language and promote evidence-based information,” she stated.
