Say no to illegal abortions, urges health MEC during Port Shepstone visit

While there had been a significant increase in the number of women dumping their babies, women who chose to terminate their pregnancies in illegal abortion clinics could not be ignored.

So said Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo who addressed hundreds of men and women who had gathered for an anti-illegal termination of pregnancy march in the Port Shepstone CBD last week.

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According to Dr Dhlomo, with more and more posters advertising illegal abortions plastered on street poles around the province, it became difficult for women to turn a blind eye to these adverts which promised ‘free’, ‘safe’ or ‘one day pain free’ abortions.

“The department is against the illegal termination of pregnancy and will continue to fight for these illegal clinics to be shut down.”

Dr Dhlomo urged women who feel pressured to terminate a pregnancy not to go to backstreet abortion facilities but to go to professional health care institutions which are registered with the health council, such as clinics and hospitals.

“These are professionals who have undergone special training and are equipped to do the procedure.”

He added that those who did not want to keep their babies were given an opportunity to give them up at birth.

“Since the department began its anti-illegal abortion campaign in 2015, fewer women are presenting at health facilities with complications as result of botched backstreet abortions. However there are still those who fall victim to these people.”

The dangers of illegal abortion included:

* Death;

* Severe bleeding;

* Uterine perforation;

* Tearing of the cervix;

* Severe damage to the genitals and abdomen;

* Internal infection of the abdomen;

* Blood poisoning and

* Increased risk of infertility.

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