By Mildred Mushunje (PhD)
Introduction
Access to safe abortion remains a contenscious issue for activists keen to see the liberalisation of abortion in Zimbabwe. Currently, the 1977 Termination of Pregnancy Act allows for an abortion under the restricted circumstances of rape, incest and health (ToP, 1977). There are various advocacy efforts underway in the country to expand the circumstances. One such effort is that supported by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), which is a professional membership organization in the United Kingdom that sets standards and provides guidance for healthcare professionals in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. The RCOG actively promotes and advocates for safe abortion practices and has developed guidelines and protocols for healthcare providers to ensure that women who choose to have an abortion receive proper care and support.
Zimbabwe is one of the countries that partnered with RCOG to implement the “Making Abortion Safe” (MAS) project. The project recruited MAS champions comprised of medical and non-medical activists with the aim of promoting comprehensive SRHR and Safe Abortion education, providing accurate information on contraception, pregnancy, STIs, and abortion, ensuring the availability and accessibility of high-quality SRHR services and advocating for policies that support safe abortion and SRHR.
Reflections from the Champions
Champions convened to share reflection from the programme. Key highlights were:
- Champions acquired valuable insights into abortion-related matters and developed a strategic approach to advocating for policy reforms.
- They drew inspiration and learned from the experiences of abortion champions worldwide, allowing them to broaden their understanding.
- New knowledge deepened their awareness of the challenges faced by women in Zimbabwe when seeking abortion services.
- the champions are now better equipped to advocate for policies that not only enhance access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) but also promote safe and legal abortion practices within Zimbabwe.
One of the key activities was the Values Clarification Attitudes Transformation (VCATs). A personal reflection from this was ““Undergoing the Values Clarifications and Attitudes Transformation Training helped me clarify my own perceptions and attitudes towards SRHR and Safe Abortion. I gained valuable insights from attending conferences and positive visibility for being associated with the RCOG.”
Key learning points were:
- Abortion stigma remains rife in communities and amongst health service providers.
- Abortion service providers experience stigma, so as recipients of care (women and girls)
- Diverse voices are key in building a vibrant safe abortion movement.
- MAS agenda must be multi-sectoral.
Conclusion
The MAS agenda needs to be had as an ongoing basis to maintain and sustain the gains made from this project. The Post Abortion care facility and the Comprehensive Abortion Care guidelines provide an opportunity for engaging on
