For decades pro-lifers have been agitating for the overturning of the Roe Vs Wade ruling which for 53 years protected abortion as a constitutional human right in the United States.
Sadly, the US Supreme Court reversed the ruling on June 24, ushering a new dawn of increased maternal mortality, unsafe abortions, stigma, and discrimination against girls and women in dire need of abortion services.
It will not take long before we start feeling the detrimental effects of reversing the ruling in Kenya, and other developing countries in Africa grappling with reducing rampant teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortions.
The ruling charts a dangerous path that will significantly affect the funding for foreign organisations under the US Global Health Assistance funding, especially in the provision of comprehensive reproductive health services and information in developing countries.
According to World Health Organization, 25 million unsafe abortions occur every year and 97 per cent of unsafe abortions occur in developing countries.
The United States as a global leader should remain cognizant that developing countries benchmark it more so in policies and laws.
Overturning the landmark ruling will sail the reproductive justice bus into the wilderness and leave it directionless while women and girls bear the burden of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion.
Restricting and criminalising abortions doesn’t stop abortions from taking place, what it does is leave women and girls with no option but locate quacks for unsafe abortions.
Studies have shown that restrictive abortion laws do not correlate with reduced abortion statistics but correlate with high unintended pregnancies and alarming unsafe abortions.
The aspect of legality or illegality of abortion does not in any way address the need for a health service.
It just expresses the opinions of the elite who in believing more in their values vis a vis the real need and struggles of the vulnerable and marginalised girls and women who cannot afford transport to seek safe abortion in states where it is legal.
Therefore, the coming months will be crucial for sexual reproductive advocates and health care providers to stand up and fight for reproductive justice in the US and Kenya.
This is because the global Roe v Wade discussion will certainly find its way to Kenya and other developing countries and heighten more opposition albeit progressive Malindi landmark ruling that recognized abortion as a fundamental human right enshrined under Article 26(4) of Kenya Constitution 2010.
Failure to do so, we should buckle up for increased maternal mortality and morbidity, and harassment of healthcare providers on the ground of manipulating and misinforming women and girls to seek a safe abortion.
Team leader for Angaza Youth Initiative
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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