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Global Media Foundation Trains Media Practitioners In The Brong Ahafo Region On Access To Safe Abortion And Contraceptive Services

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Global Media Foundation (GlomeF) a non-profit and anti-corruption

media advocacy organization, organized a day's workshop on the 9th

October, 2014, for media practitioners in the Brong-Ahafo region of

Ghana.

Over the years the reproductive health policy of Ghana on reduction of

unsafe abortion only dwelt on promotion of family planning,

contraception and post-abortion care but not provision of safe

abortion within the confine of the law as recommended by the World

Health Organization.

However termination of pregnancy to safe the mother's life in case of

serious medical conditions like hypertensive disorder and renal

failure, etc. the obstetric emergencies like acute homorrhage in

pregnancy have been in virtually all public and private hospitals in

Ghana.

According to statistics presented by the CEO of GlomeF, Mr. Raphael

Godlove Ahenu JR, 7% of all pregnancies end in abortion and 15% women

ages 15-49 have ever had abortion. About 15 abortions are performed

for every 1.000 women of reproductive age (15-44) each year.

"According to a study conducted in the late 1990 in Southen Ghana, 17

abortions are observed for every 1,000 women for reproductive age."

He cited that, while underreporting might compromise the accuracy of

induce abortion estimated, there is fairly clear evidence that 37% of

births in the country are unplanned – 23% are mistimed and 14% are

unwanted. "This means that, each year more than 300,000 infants are

born as a result of unintended pregnancies, hence this project to

increase young people awareness about contraceptive and safe abortion

related services.

Mr. Raphael Ahenu called on the government to promote access to safe

and legal abortion service for all women, to the full extent of the

law, and also publicize the availability of these services in

public-sector facilities and ensure that services are affordable for

poor and rural women.

He urged participants to create awareness on safe abortion and report

on abortion issues from a human rights perspective.

By: Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku (KOK)

Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku

I am a Ghanaian Broadcast Journalist/Writer who has an interest in General News, Sports, Entertainment, Health, Lifestyle and many more.

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