BLANTYRE, MALAWI - Abortion is illegal in Malawi, unless the mother's life is at risk, but that doesn't stop an estimated 140,000 women per year having unsafe terminations that leave 12,000 women dead and countless others permanently scarred. Despite these numbers, efforts to liberalize current abortion laws are facing resistance from conservative groups. After getting pregnant at age 17, “Melita” – not her real name – saw abortion as her only option to stay in school. But Malawi’s 160-year-old abortion law only allows termination to save the life of a mother. Safe abortion advocate Brian Ligomeka says expanding abortion law would save the lives of many mothers and alleviate maternal complications.

Source: Ethiopian News March 10, 2021 17:20 UTC