The Government, through the Ministry of Health, has been urged to roll out guidelines that will enable the implementation of safe abortions in Health facilities.
Speaking on the issue, Prof. Joseph Karanja who is an obstetrician and gynaecologist asserted that there is a paramount need for the government to restore the guidelines that highlighted the framework through which an abortion would be procured.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Mr Karanja, who testified on Tuesday in a case in which civil society organisations want the Government to introduce guidelines for safe abortion, stated: "In 2014, the government suddenly withdrew the guidelines that were allowing medical practitioners, under the laid out frameworks, to be able to procure the procedure."
[caption caption="File image of Prof Joseph Karanja in a Nairobi court"]
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Additionally, while addressing the court, Mr Karanja exclaimed: "We are pro-life but if one has to be saved then the life of a woman is more important as the baby relies on the mother.”
The gynaecologist, who told the court that an unborn child is not human, further added that the life of a mother is more important than that of an unborn baby and therefore if her life is threatened by the pregnancy, the government should provide a framework through which abortion can be done.
Supporting the professor's sentiments, Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) chairperson Josephine Mong'are told Kenyans.co.ke that their petition was not about legalising abortion, but fighting for the right of women with unwanted pregnancies and who have a right to life and to procure safe and legal abortion services.
"We are not doing anything new. We are just pushing for this so that women are able to enjoy their rights as is provided by the law. Without those guidelines, they cannot enjoy life as is laid out in Article 26 of the Kenyan constitution," Ms Mong'are affirmed.
The abortion case is being heard by Justices Aggrey Muchelule, George Odunga, John Mativo, Lydiah Achode and Mumbi Ngugi.
On February 24, 2014, Ministry of Health issued a memo banning all healthcare workers from participating in any training on safe abortion.
This meant that pregnancies resulting from rape, incest and defilement could not be legally terminated.
The Ministry also banned the use of an abortion drug - Medabon - which is a combination of two other drugs (Mifepristone and Misoprostol), also used in abortion.
[caption caption="File image of FIDA Chairperson Josephine Mong'are"]
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