Rumphi District Hospital says it registered 569 post-abortion cases in 2022 which authorities blamed on lack of information on sexual and reproductive health services among the youth.

Speaking in an interview on Saturday at a Youth Open Day at Lubagha, the hospital’s post-abortion care deputy coordinator Agnes Kamanga said out of 569 cases, 451 are girls and young women under 29.

She said in 2021, the hospital recorded 448 cases among the same age group.

Participants discuss during the meetingLet us consider boys, too

“We plan to utilise social gatherings such as open days to engage the youth on such issues,” said Kamanga.

She said the restriction on abortion was further putting the lives of women at risk as they resort to unsafe abortion.

“I hope that the Termination of Pregnancy Bill will address such anomalies once it becomes law,” said Kamanga.

Rumphi District Youth Network chairperson Denis Mkandawire said they have intensified awareness on sexual and reproductive health rights through different platforms, including radio.

He urged young people to join youth groups where they can access family planning services.

Group village head Kaputa of Traditional Authority Mwahenga said there was need to revise the law on abortion as girls and young women were turning to unsafe abortions.

The open day was organised by Family Planning Association of Malawi to engage youths on sexual and reproductive health issues and sensitising them to the Termination of Pregnancy Bill.

The post Rumphi registers 569 post-abortion cases first appeared on The Nation Online.