Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the
suspension of the “State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal
Indications” issued by the Directorate of Family Health and Nutrition in the
Ministry of Health.
This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for
Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, titled, “Retraction on guidelines relating to safe
termination of pregnancy for medical reasons in Lagos State’.
Sanwo-Olu said that the new guidelines would not be
implemented until adequate deliberation.
The governor added that the suspension would also allow for
adequate public sensitisation and stakeholder engagement to reach a consensus
required for successful guideline development.
The statement read,
“Among the several factors that contribute to maternal mortality,
illegal abortions and high-risk pregnancies leading to unresolvable
complications rank high.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Health is seeking different
methods to eliminate illegal abortions and ensure that a mother does not die at
childbirth, thereby disrupting an entire family unit.
“In this regard, it
became imperative to examine, in keeping with existing National and State laws
and policies, if there are indeed justifications and medical reasons to offer
abortion to a woman whose life is threatened by a pregnancy.
“Following this, the guideline was developed over four years
through painstaking work by experts in Law and in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
with a focus on creating the opportunity to reduce maternal mortality and in
line with existing laws.
“These guidelines have generated immense public interest
which has necessitated escalating it to Mr Governor, who has advised further
sensitization of the public and key stakeholders to ensure a clearer
understanding of the objectives of the guidelines.
“To this end, we are suspending the implementation of these
guidelines in the meantime for the Executive Council to deliberate on this
matter and ensure adequate public sensitization and stakeholder engagement to
reach a consensus required for successful guideline development.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Health remains committed to
planning, devising, and implementing policies that promote qualitative,
affordable, and equitable healthcare services to the citizenry.”
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