Figure

THOUGHTS ON ABORTION IN NIGERIA

I read about an Instagram model that was ready to file a lawsuit against Aubrey Drake Graham, a Canadian rapper, singer, and actor who allegedly had poured hot pepper in a condom after use to kill the sperm. She (the model) went to the bathroom to take some sperm for her use only to feel hot sensation on her private part. The superstar confessed what he did to the condom, and she was mad and furious – her quest to have a baby for the superstar (without his consent) was ruined.

It’s not limited to abroad people; I’ve seen ladies that, out of desperation, can do anything to have just one child for a man they so much admire just to have a share of his wealth and other material things. The same way ladies are desperate to have kids for men to have a share of his money, fame, and name, so also should they have access for safe abortion if reverse was the case. Hence, I would be writing on “safe abortion” and why it should be legalized in Nigeria.

Conversations like these are controversial. Everyone would have opinions. There are many that would look at it from the angle of a scientist, some would look at it as a social scientist, and some would view it from the economical aspect. We have the religion extremists too. However, everyone is right as we are all entitled to our opinions but no one should be entitled to being ignorant. 

Abortion, by Wikipedia, is defined as the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. Three out of ten pregnancies end in induced abortions, nearly half of all abortions are unsafe, and these unsafe abortions happen everyday.

According to research done by the Guttmacher Institute, an estimated 456,000 unsafe abortions are done in Nigeria every year. One would wonder why there is always increase in things we consider ‘illegal’ in Nigeria. In this part of the world, cultivation, recreational, and medical use of cannabis is illegal. It is also a criminal offence to be found in possession of the plant yet people still find their way to buy and smoke cannabis. Why not legalize it to reduce its intake to its barest minimum?

All living organisms will go through the process of MRNIGERCAD(Movement, Respiration, Nutrition, Irritability, Growth, Excretion, Reproduction, Communication, Adaptation, and Death–all I listed are characteristics of living organisms) and just the way it has been programmed that every organism will go through all the processes, exactly the way it has been programed that all living organisms would copulate (and this shouldn’t be meant for reproduction alone). People have premarital sex, some even do outside marriage. 

Using a condom for protection shouldn’t be gender based. Fine, mistakes that can lead to unintended pregnancy are prone to happen— It could be failure of contraceptives, missed time, partner preference(to go raw) or a burst condom. However, it’s unheard of that in this age and time, people still drink mixed lime juice with potash, make research about fruits that can terminate pregnancy, resort to taking consumable herbs that “not for pregnant women” are written on and others to terminate pregnancy. 

It’s illegal to have an abortion in Nigeria yet research shows that roughly 456,000 are done yearly. 

I could remember an Organization I belonged to visited one of the biggest pharmacies in Abeokuta. We were shown around each section and we got to a section (a box) where all those drugs that were not meant for the public were kept. They could only sell if there’s a doctor’s prescription, and it’s to save life only if the life of the woman carrying the pregnancy is in danger– this could be ectopic pregnancy and other life threatening ones.

Should abortion be legalized in Nigeria, women will have access to legal, safe, and comprehensive abortion care, and this will also include pre-abortion and post abortion care which is essential for the attainment of the highest possible level of sexual and reproductive health. 

International conference on population and development stated in 1994 that “Every individual has the right to decide freely and responsibly, without discrimination, coercion and violence —the number, spacing, and timing of their children and to have the information means to do and right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health”.

 

You have been told you would go to hellfire if you abort. Maybe yes, but taking care of a child you never planned for ( when it’s obvious you are not financially dependent or emotionally strong to have one) is a hell on its own. You can be selfish enough as a lady to opt in for a safe abortion. Yes! You should put yourself first; get a life and be financially independent, be comfortable, and plan for your kid’s comfortability (that’s if you ever want to have one). You can go to hell fire thereafter as a fulfilled sinner.

 

 

Abortion doesn’t cause infertility, unsafe abortion does. You need to get a life first and stop looking at abortion from religious perspectives.

It’s very insensitive.

 

Written by Kabirat Arowona.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *