Mwamba accuses groups of aggressive abortion campaign, urges focus on maternal mortality

Former Zambian diplomat Emmanuel Mwamba has accused groups of running an aggressive campaign to promote abortions in the country, arguing that the effort diverted attention from Zambia’s high maternal and infant mortality rates.

Mwamba said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday that many of the abortions taking place occurred outside the provisions of the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1972.

He alleged that promoters had exploited legal provisions meant to discourage the continuation of pregnancy in cases where the mother’s life or physical and mental health was at risk, turning them into grounds for offering abortions literally on the counter.

“Also in many cases promoters have exploited the provisions discouraging the continuation of the pregnancy that state that certain circumstances around the mother or existing children pose a greater risk to the pregnant woman’s life or physical/mental health making such provisions to offer abortions literally on the counter,” Mwamba said.

According to Mwamba, the same rationale was being used to promote abortion as a response to teenage pregnancies.

He said arguments around safe abortions were being used to attempt to legalize or destigmatize the practice.

“There is also a sneaky method to use ‘universal health access and coverage’ amd sexual reproductive health as a right to abortion and to include the provisions of ‘safe abortions’,” he stated.

Mwamba recalled his time as Permanent Secretary in Northern Province, saying he issued a ban after discovering an international organisation was allegedly providing over 400 abortions a month through a field outreach program that was purportedly for screening teens and women for STDs and cervical cancer.

He contrasted the role of some international health groups with their current stance, noting that organisations such as the International Midwives Organization now openly promoted abortions.

“Government must be alert and help direct resources and skills to instead support policies and programs that prevent both the current high and alarming maternal and infant mortality rates than promote abortions and abortion care,” Mwamba said.

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