To abort or not: Let the woman make her choice

A stressed woman sitting on the floor. (Courtesy/iStock)

In 1996, former South African Nelson Mandela signed into law the most progressive reproductive Bill for women. It allowed them free abortions until 12 weeks and by 1997, South Africa saw a 91 per cent drop in deaths caused by unsafe abortions.

In Kenya, seven women and girls die every day due to unsafe abortions. Criminalising safe abortion services, without investing highly in sex education to prevent unwanted pregnancies, is the root cause of those deaths. Deaths that are not unlikely to stop, especially when we exist in a country that derails every effort of having sex education taught in schools.