World Health Day: more work needed to stem the toll of unsafe abortion

Unsafe abortion exacts a punishing toll on women in the developing world, and many of the global maternal deaths resulting from unsafe abortion occur in Africa. According to World Health Organization (WHO) researchers, an estimated 4.2 million unsafe abortions occur throughout the continent each year.

Most African countries allow abortion in only one circumstance: when the woman’s life is endangered. In Kenya, where abortion is legal only to save a woman’s life, complications from unsafe procedures may account for up to 20,000 hospitalizations in the public health-care system alone. In Uganda, which has a similar law, it is estimated that almost 300,000 women and girls have unsafe abortions each year with about 85,000 seeking medical treatment for resulting complications.

On this World Health Day, we look toward the future of women around the globe and to the prospect of continued work to save women’s lives from the complications of unsafe abortion. In Africa, where the number of unsafe abortions has risen in the past decade, efforts are critical. Indeed, according to WHO, deaths in Africa from unsafe abortions rose to 36,000 from previous estimates of 29,500. And though abortion is legally restricted in most of Africa, the overall number of abortions also increased from 1995 to 2003.

To help stem the tide of unsafe abortions, the Ipas Africa Alliance will welcome a new director this summer: Mosotho Gabriel. Gabriel has worked since 2004 as Ipas South Africa’s country director, where she played a pivotal role in the implementation of South Africa’s Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act. In addition to her Ipas work, she brings more than 15 years of experience as a nurse-midwife, family-planning clinical manager, trainer, administrator and public-health officer, as well as a master’s degree in international health from Uppsala University in Sweden in June 2003.

“I wanted to be part of the Africa re-structuring process and contribute my knowledge and skills. This is with a hope that the vision and process will enhance communication and coordination within Africa for better use of Ipas resources,” says Gabriel.

As Alliance director, Gabriel will work closely with Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, Ipas vice president for Africa, who will now be able to focus her full attention on regional policy and advocacy, and building regional network capacities. 

“This position will enable Doctor Brookman-Amissah to share her experiences across the continent. She has played a critical role in creating sustainable and large-scale impact across multiple countries and initiated country policy and advocacy activities. Her leadership role is needed across the continent,” she adds.

Gabriel will be based in the Africa Alliance office in Nairobi and will be responsible for directing Ipas strategies for about 12 country programs in East and Southern Africa as well as Francophone Africa.

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258