BY DAHIRU SULEIMAN, DUTSE.
Recent World Health Survey has indicated that Nigeria is among nations leading the high rate of maternal mortality ratio, recording between 800 and 1,000 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Others include cases of contraception and safe abortion where it states approximately 142,000 women are treated each year for complications from unsafe abortion. Abortion is legally permitted only to save a woman’s life in Nigeria, which means that many induced abortions are clandestine and unsafe.
Against this backdrop, a Non Governmental Organisation, IPas, organised a two day media training for journalists on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act on danger of domestic rape, sexual harassment, abortion, prevention and control.
In her remarks, the IPas Country Director, Hauwa Shekarau stated the objective of the training was to sensitize the media practitioners on the provision of the Act. Although the Act was only in force in Abuja, the project aims to domesticate it in Jigawa State.
Also speaking an IPas resource person, Mrs Diris Ikpeze, highlighted that considering the high rate of sexual violence in the country, IPas was implementing a project in conjunction with other organisations such as the IPPF, OPTIONS, Marue Stoppes, among others to arrest and control the scourge of unwanted pregnancies leading to unsafe abortion thereby contributing to high rate of infant mortality and maternal mobility in the country.
Mrs. Ikpeze who is also the IPas Policy Consultant stated that although the VAPP Act was only functioning in Abuja, she hoped other state governments will expedite actions through their various state houses of assemblies in giving the VAPP Act speedy passage and full implementation.
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