By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Stakeholders in the Health sector on Thursday, raised alarm over the 610,000 unsafe abortions are carried out annually in Nigeria.

This was revealed in Abuja in Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, SRHR Summit 1.0, in commemoration of World Contraception Day, 2024 organized by Media, Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria.

The theme of the conference is ‘A Choice for all. Freedom to plan, power to choose’.

The Country Director, IPAs Nigeria Health Foundation, Dr Lucky Palmer, in his opening address said it is important for Nigerian women to be able to choose what they want.
According to the IPAs boss, “Women are not able to express what they want and sometimes, just imagine going to the hospital and you are not able to express yourself.

There is a friend who has hearing disabilities so she was sick and went to the hospital, it was discovered she had Sexually Transmitted Disease, STD, in order to communicate to her in sign language, they had to invite the son to interpret for her. Do you know, how embarrassing this is. This is the reality most of our women go through, maybe because of disability or financial constraints.

“Unplanned pregnancy is a great challenge but these pregnancies are preventable, we shouldn’t be having unplanned pregnancies if contraceptives are free. Nigeria contributes about 28% of maternal deaths in the world”.

He urged Stakeholders in the sector, “Stakeholders must not relent in their efforts in addressing the challenges. Contraception should be available to all, including married women, young ones who are single. Contraception should not only be for married women, it should also be for young people. Other animals have sex for procreation but human beings have sex for pleasure. If we are to prevent unnecessary deaths among our women and it is imperative we have this conversation”.

He said, “About 610,000 unsafe abortions are carried out annually in Nigeria. An estimated 285, 000 women and girls experience complications from unsafe abortions in Nigeria annually. About 20,000 people die from complications arising from unsafe abortions annually in Nigeria. Half of these 20,000 who die from complications from unsafe abortion are adolescent girls.
Unsafe abortions are a major contributor of Nigeria’s high maternal mortality ratio which is among the highest in the world (1,500 women per 100,000 births).

“Only 16% of women of reproductive age use any form of contraception, with even fewer using modern methods with success rates.
“28 out of every 100 pregnancy in Nigeria are unintended and 48% of these pregnancies end in induced abortion.
While women of all age gap and socio-economic class make up the demographic of women aged 15 -19, women who have no educational background and women in the poorest communities are significantly more likely to have unsafe abortions according to research.

“72% of deaths among girls below the age of 19 are from unsafe abortion complications.
Unsafe abortions remain a significant public health issue in Nigeria, contributing to high maternal and mortality rates .

“Despite legal restrictions, induced abortion is quite common , with an estimated 1.25 million abortions performed in 2012.

“Although Nigeria ratified the Maputo protocol, an agreement among African Union countries that safe guard the reproductive rights of women and girls, abortion remains legal only to save a woman’s life.

“With an estimated abortion rate of 33 abortions per 1, 000 women, research by the Guttmacher Institute shows that most of these abortions are performed clandestinely and unsafely. In 2023, the contraceptive prevalence rate in Nigeria was a mere 16%, indicating a very low use of contraception”.
Dr. Ufuoma Omo-Obi, Board Chair, MHR, in his welcome address at the conference said, one of the most important things that would give joy to Nigerian youths is to be able to access healthcare. Especially women that are pregnant, in order to reduce Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio burden.

According to Ufuoma, “It is imperative to join forces together to fight maternal mortality rates in Nigeria by making contraception available for all women. And Nigerian women should not be afraid to have the conversation on safe contraception, and be able to tackle these challenges. Most times people don’t know , how they can relate to these issues.
” Every woman should have right to choose, the Federal Government has a restrictive abortion law with only five states adopting the framework. With more states adopting the framework this would help to reverse the maternal mortality issues in Nigeria. Nigeria is doing well in this administration, the Federal Government has already provided $4 million dollars and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), giving $6 Millon for SRHR in the country”.

National President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN, Prof. Rosemary Ogu, while speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the event, urged the three tiers of government to do more of what they are doing by opening up funding for public health, contraceptive free and making pregnancy care free in the country.
She lamented that women should be able planned choose in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Dr Ejike Orji hinted that there has been a 40 percent reduction in maternal mortality over the period of eight years, Nigeria still has the highest number of maternal mortality in the world. He lamented that 70 percent of people who die are girls below 15 years

He said before now, donors have been supporting family planning with funds , “We must make family planning a legislative agenda the last minister of health refused to release money in his last three years but the new minister has released 4 million dollars and the donor agency 6 million dollars”.

Global leaders have pledged to reduce by 10 per cent deaths associated with bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) annually by 10 per cent through 2030.

WHO said on Thursday in a statement that the global leaders approved a political declaration at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

It said declaration also calls for sustainable national financing and 100 million dollars in catalytic funding, to help achieve a target of at least 60 per cent of countries having funded national action plans on AMR by 2030.

The UN said that the global leaders are Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), known as the Quadripartite.

“This goal is to be reached through, for example, diversifying funding sources and securing more contributors to the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

” The Quadripartite applauds countries for recognising the need for global, regional and national efforts to address AMR through a One Health approach, which recognizes that the health of people, animals, plants

“Also,the wider environment, including ecosystems, are closely linked and interdependent,” it said.

According to the statement, the gobal champions involved with the meeting include Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, AMR survivors, civil society and stakeholder organisations from around the world.

It said that AMR occured when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to medicines, leading to infections becoming difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

It said that on human health, the declaration sets a more ambitious target that at least 70 per cent of antibiotics used for human health globally should belong to the WHO Access group antibiotics with relatively minimal side effects and lower potential to cause AMR.

It  includes targets around Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), such as 100 per cent of countries having basic water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management services in all health care facilities.

It also includes 90 per cent of countries meeting all WHO’s minimum requirements for IPC programmes by 2030,”

” There are also commitments on investments to facilitate equitable access to and appropriate use of antimicrobials, as well as on reporting surveillance data on antimicrobial use and AMR across sectors,” it said.

On agriculture and animal health, the world leaders pledged meaningfully reduce in the quantity of antimicrobials used globally in the agri-food systems by prioritising and funding the implementation of measures to prevent and control infections

This  is to be achieved in the context of the WOAH list of priority diseases and FAO’s RENOFARM initiative, as well as preventive strategies, including animal vaccination strategies, good husbandry practices, biosecurity, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

On the environment, the declaration underscores the need to prevent and address the discharge of antimicrobials into the environment.

It also calls for increased research and knowledge on the environmental dimensions of AMR and for catalyzing actions to address key sources of antimicrobial pollution.

Acknowledging  that AMR is a complex problem, the declaration recognised the need for a multisectoral response combining human, agricultural, animal, and environmental sector-specific interventions,” it said.

Mr QU Dongyu., FAO Director-Genera said that the intersectoral challenge of AMR demanded a One Health systems approach that unites human, animal, plant, and environmental health, backed by robust and accountable global AMR governance.

According to. Dongyu, sustainable, diversified financing is essential to support the setting of clear priorities and measurable targets that drive decisive action while recognising national and regional contexts.

“We must ensure universal access to medicines, treatments, and diagnostics, especially in developing countries and in all sectors, while promoting preventive measures and investing in research, innovation, capacity building, and bold awareness initiatives.

“Our health depends on safe, nutritious food, and food security hinges on healthy, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems.

“For nearly 79 years, FAO has been steadfast in its mission to secure safe, nutritious food for all. We fully support this declaration and remain committed to a multisectoral, multi-stakeholder approach to eliminate AMR risks in agrifood systems,” he said.

Ms Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP said that evidence was mounting that the environment played a significant role in the development, spread and transmission of AMR, including transmission between humans, and animals to humans.

According to Andersen, why if we’re to reduce the burden of AMR and its risks, the environment must be part of the solution.

“Today’s declaration recognises this need, and UNEP will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to reduce the burden of AMR on societies and tackle the triple planetary crisis,” she said.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said that in the century since Alexander Fleming stumbled across penicillin in a laboratory in London, antibiotics have become a mainstay of medicine, transforming once-deadly infections into treatable and curable conditions.

Ghebreyesus said that antimicrobial resistance threatens to unwind that progress, making it without question one of the most pressing health challenges of the time.

“Today’s declaration includes vital commitments that, if translated into action, will help to track AMR, slow it down, expand access to antimicrobial medicines like antibiotics and spur the development of new ones,” he said.

Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran.WOAH Director- General said that antimicrobials help animals and humans live longer and healthier lives, but many of these life-saving drugs are dangerously losing their efficacy, which has devastating impacts not only on human health, but also on livestock and the economy at large,

“Urgent action is needed and we welcome the numerous commitments made by countries through this political declaration.

“The prioritisation of preventative measures against infectious diseases in animals is of paramount importance.

” WOAH will continue to assist countries by developing standards and guidelines, assessing policy frameworks for antimicrobial prescription.

”WOAH will also support the implementation of commitment and vaccination programmes on priority diseases that can help reduce the need for antimicrobials, among other measures,” Soubeyran said.(NAN)

UNICEF has issued an urgent appeal for nearly $59 million to support efforts to halt the rapid spread of mpox in six African countries including Burundi, where youngsters have been impacted the most.UNICEF Regional Health Advisor for Eastern and Southern Africa,Dr Paul Ngwakum diclosed this to journalists in Geneva on Friday.

“Children in Burundi are bearing the brunt of the mpox outbreak with alarming rates of infection and health impacts. “Of the nearly 600 reported cases, two-thirds are children under 19 years old and the situation is escalating really rapidly with more than [a] 40 per cent increase in cases over the last three weeks,” he saidTo date in Burundi there have been more than 14,000 suspected cases but no reported deaths from mpox. Neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, has seen nearly 21,900 suspected cases and 717 deaths. The UNICEF official insisted that with funding and prompt action in Burundi, “we have an opportunity to end this outbreak in a very short time period because the geographical area is kind of limited and with concerted effort from all partners.”I think, we can limit the spread; we can contain the virus so we can stop the outbreak without any loss of life.” Following the start of the school year earlier this week in Burundi, the UN agency remains concerned about the rise of mpox among children under five years of age, who represent 30 per cent of reported cases – as in DRC.To help teachers and parents understand the risks and minimisze disruption, the UN agency has supported the education authorities to implement health measures in schools.This is train staff to recognise early symptoms of mpox and reinforce hand hygiene. “Make no mistake, we don’t have all the answers. No one does. This is a rapidly evolving situation, with a new, infectious strain.”We are learning more every day about different modes of transmission.”And with more information, we update our messaging and our response,” Ngwakum said.The UNICEF appeal will also provide mental health support for parents and front-line workers who may face hostility from some communities in part.This is because of the association of mpox with sex, which is responsible for some transmission – but by no means all of it.He said, “Sex in Africa is not something that is spoken of on a daily basis. And if they think you are having a sexually transmitted disease, it stigmatizes you as well.“We try to explain that this is not the case. Most children have it from body-to-body contact or contact with animals or contact with infected materials, which is not having anything to do with human-to-human sexual contamination.”Communities also remain fearful of a repeat of previous serious health outbreaks such as Ebola or COVID-19, “so there is an important role we are playing to dispel myths, and calm fears”, the UNICEF official explained.Highlighting the stark contrast between the high number of suspected deaths from mpox in DRC and Burundi, Dr Margaret Harris from the UN World Health Organization (WHO) explained that this was likely owing to the longstanding humanitarian emergency in eastern DRC.“Many of the children whom we’ve seen horribly, sadly die in the Democratic Republic of Congo were very immuno-suppressed.”This was through being severely malnourished and having suffered the effects of conflict and perhaps also having other diseases at the same time,’’ she said (NAN)