A policy statement on safe pregnancy termination has been released by the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Health.
The “Lagos State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications” policy document, which is 40 pages long, lays out recommendations for safe pregnancy termination within the purview of Lagos State’s criminal law.
Presenting and launching the document at a stakeholders’ engagement, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, explained that while therapeutic termination of pregnancy is permissible under the law in Lagos State.
He noted that the policy document was borne out of the need to provide evidence-based data and information for health workers in public and private sectors who have the requisite skills and training necessary to provide safe terminations to reduce preventable deaths.
A statement from the Lagos State Ministry of Health quoted Ogboye as saying, “In 2011, the Lagos State House of Assembly updated the criminal code, providing for abortion to save the life and protect the physical health of the woman. While physical health is covered under the Lagos legal framework, services conforming to the law have not been available in Lagos State health sector.
“This document provides information on relevant laws applicable in Lagos State while providing standards and best practices with regards to legal indications, pre and post procedure care, methods and monitoring. I must state here that this document has undergone wide consultation with relevant technical stakeholders within the legal and health service context in the State.â€
