In response to the silent epidemic of unsafe terminations and reproductive health neglect, the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, with support from Global Affairs Canada and the Centre for Reproductive Rights, launched the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Observatory in Gombe.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the high-level roundtable event, held at Custodian Hotel, brought together civil society organisations, media practitioners, healthcare professionals, and government representatives to assess progress on the 2020–2025 SRHR framework and tackle the growing crisis of unsafe pregnancy terminations in Nigeria.
In her welcome address, Mrs Mary George Peluola, Director of WARDC Lagos, described the launch as “a significant milestone” in the quest for gender-responsive health policy.
“Sexual and reproductive health rights are fundamental human rights,” she said. “The Observatory will be a beacon of hope and accountability, helping individuals make informed choices about their bodies, lives, and futures.”Mrs Peluola said
Mrs Peluola emphasised that the platform will offer evidence-based research, community-led advocacy, and policy engagement tools aimed at accelerating progress in SRHR service delivery across Gombe State.
Joining virtually, the WARDC Founding Director, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, added urgency to the initiative:
“This is about saving lives especially those of women and girls disproportionately affected by unsafe reproductive practices. We must change the narrative.”
She called for stronger legal protections and health infrastructure that prioritise safe, legal, and affordable SRHR services for all women, regardless of class or location.
Providing an overview of the project, Sheila Audu Ibrahim introduced the STOP Campaign Safe Termination of Pregnancy a bold advocacy push to dismantle stigma and silence around abortion-related care.
“STOP stands for Stop The Oppression of Pregnant women through unsafe practices, discrimination, and policy neglect,” she explained.
The campaign, she said, seeks to push for progressive laws, empower adolescent girls, and demand transparency and government accountability in SRHR service provision.
“We want improved health outcomes through sustained advocacy,” Ibrahim noted. “This Observatory is more than a tool; it’s a movement for social change.”
The Pain Behind the Statistics
While data and legal frameworks were at the heart of discussions, it was the human stories that underscored the gravity of the crisis.
One such story was that of a woman who arrived at a hospital in Gombe for a routine antenatal check-up. Beaming with hope, she anticipated hearing the rhythm of a healthy heartbeat. But the scan revealed devastating news—her unborn baby had anencephaly, a fatal condition in which the brain and skull are missing.
“There was no chance of survival after birth,” a doctor recounted. “We had to break the news carefully. She was devastated.”
Supported by healthcare providers and her family, the woman made the difficult but informed decision to undergo a safe termination procedure a decision that protected her health and gave her space to grieve and heal.
But not all women have that opportunity.
Many arrive at hospitals unconscious, haemorrhaging after using unsafe concoctions or undergoing procedures by unqualified individuals.
One case described a young woman who came in with her intestines protruding—a gruesome outcome of an un safe termination of pregnancy by a quack. Some survive. Many don’t.
Unsafe Termination: A Public Health Crisis
Dr Christopher Laima, Gombe State representative of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), labelled unsafe terminations a “ticking time bomb” for maternal health.
“It remains one of the leading causes of preventable maternal deaths,” he warned. “We must act with evidence, urgency, and empathy.”
Dr Laima explained that, although abortion laws in Nigeria are restrictive, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act allows safe terminations in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life or mental health is at risk.
“These legal exceptions are not loopholes—they are lifesaving,” he stated, urging healthcare workers to be aware of the law and provide care accordingly, including post-abortion counselling and contraception.
A United Front for Change
Speakers at the event called for collective action to tackle the barriers facing women and girls in accessing SRHR services:
“We’ll keep educating the public and speaking up for women,” said Farida Dunaman of Salf Foundation.
“There must be continuous capacity building and community ownership to ensure sustainability,” added Grace Macdonal of Teenagers Empowerment Initiative.
“Unlicensed practitioners are a major threat. We must protect women from these dangers,” cautioned Josephine Ogenyi of Kishimi Shelter Care Foundation.
“The media has a responsibility to communicate with clarity, compassion, and courage,” noted Comfort Mukollo of Nume Media Initiative for Development.
The Observatory: A Promise to Listen, Protect, and Act
As the discussion ends , the participants message was clear: the SRHR Observatory is not merely a project. It is a promise.A promise to listen to women’s voices.A promise to protect their health and dignity.A promise to act boldly, urgently, and together.
