The government should release new policies on safe and legal abortion, Reproductive Health Services executive director John Nyamu has said.
Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, he said 300,000 unsafe pregnancies were reported in 2002, and this rose to 465,000 in 2012.
“Unsafe pregnancy is rampant because women and health providers believe abortions is illegal,” Nyamu said.
“They cannot attend public health facilities for abortion services and end up being induced by quacks.”
Nyamu spoke during the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion.
He said the guidelines have been reviewed and are due for signing before October by Medical Services director Nicholas Muraguri.
He said when women have access to safe, legal and affordable abortion, maternal death and injuries will decrease dramatically.
Nyamu said abortion is legal in Kenya as long as it is performed by a trained health professionals for four reasons.
These include saving the life of a pregnant woman, preserving her health, in case of an emergency and in case of any other written law.
Nyamu said the best way to fight abortions is to reduce unintended pregnancies.
He said this can be done through comprehensive sexuality education.
