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GLOBAL NEWS/ETHIOPIA
Moving forward: Ethiopia develops new safe abortion guidelines.
Source: Ipas Press Room August 1, 2006. (Slightly modified by Upeka de Silva.) www.ipas.org
Commemorating World Population day on July 10, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health released guidelines for safe abortion services, making major progress toward implementing the May 2005 revisions of the country’s abortion law.
A working group developed technical and procedural guidelines. The group included the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists; the Ethiopian Nurse Midwives Association; the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia; the Ethiopian Public Health Association; and representatives from the Ministry of Health’s Family Health Department and from Ipas.
Previously, abortion was only allowed to save the woman’s life or health. Today, abortions can be performed when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest; when the woman’s or fetus’ lives are in jeopardy; when the fetus has severe abnormalities; when the woman has physical or mental disabilities; and when a minor is physically or psychologically unprepared to raise a child.
The guidelines states that any woman eligible for abortion should obtain it within 3 working days, thus preventing health care providers using delaying tactics to block a women’s access to abortion; that medical abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol is acceptable; that midwives and other mid-level providers can perform abortions.
According to the Director of Ipas Ethiopia, “The liberalization of the criminal code is a highly positive development, and the guidelines represent a crucial step for the realization of the law. In order to save women’s lives, the law must now be translated into real change in the hospitals and health centers, and in the knowledge of medical workers and the public. Health-care providers must learn of their responsibilities and, in some cases, undergo training. Ethiopia’s citizens must learn their legal rights and what constitutes quality services.”
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