Illegal abortions on the rise

by S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Cor.

Around 35,000 illegal abortions are carried out annually due to young women becoming pregnant over clandestine love-affairs and irresponsible sexual relationships.

Some female teenagers are duped by their lovers who make them pregnant.

Ultimately, they seek illegal medical support from quacks to get rid of their unwanted pregnancies. Many women have died of excessive bleeding while undergoing illegal abortions. Due to lack of knowledge on maternity among female teenagers, many girls fall victims.

More counselling sessions on motherhood and maternity need to be expanded to educate senior female students to avoid unfortunate health trends, said the former Senior Provincial Director of Health D.M. Rajasekara at a conference for PHIs and Family Health Nurses of the Bingiriya electorate of the Kurunegala District held recently at the Bingiriya Youth Training Centre.

He said that these facts have been revealed in the latest informal surveys conducted by the Ministry of Health and higher authorities.

The Government Health Sector should take all possible measures early to check this trend and save future mothers.

Educational programs should be organised to educate future mothers with the help of Divisional Secretaries, school heads and other regional level health authorities," Dr. Rajasekara said.