MBABANE: “Unsafe abortion is a silent epidemic claiming the lives of countless women and girls worldwide, including in Eswatini, Colani Hlatjwako, the One Billion Rising Africa Coordinator told this Swaziland News.
During the recent Interface dialogue at Zikhotheni community held at Galile Sports ground last month, the issue of unsafe abortion was discussed at length, young women face preventable deaths or life-altering complications because they lack access to safe, legal, and affordable reproductive healthcare.
Members of the community said “this harsh reality forces many to seek dangerous alternatives, risking their health and lives”.
The One Billion Rising Coordinator further mentioned that, unsafe abortion in Eswatini “is rooted in poverty”, stigma, and inadequate access to reproductive health services.
“Many young women, particularly in rural areas like Zikhotheni Galile, lack access to affordable contraception and reproductive health education. Faced with unplanned pregnancies and societal pressure, they often turn to unsafe methods performed by unqualified practitioners”, said the One Billion Rising Africa Coordinator.
One Billion Rising wants women to be allowed to abort, Coordinator Colani Hlatjwako says unsafe abortion a national crisis.