(Njogu wa Njeri is a columnist and a trained journalist)
The recent move by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) to ban Marie Stopes Kenya from offering abortion services could spell great health risks to many Kenyans.
Marie Stopes, an international health organisation that has been on the frontline in offering reproductive health services in Kenya and beyond has been in the spotlight following its vigorous media campaigns to publicise its services with abortion being the most common.
This seems to have rubbed KMPDB and the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) the wrong way which led to the decision.
However, although the decision was aimed at protecting the members of the public against the spread of abortion, it is probable that the move will trigger an upsurge of exactly what it was aimed at curbing.
It is evident that a significant number of women are usually in need of abortion services due to legitimate reasons for example financial constraints and health complications.
Such patients had gained confidence in the organisation. In addition, Marie Stopes opposed the move insisting that they have been offering the services within the confines of Kenyan constitution.
The ban, therefore, is likely to cause an increase in backstreet abortion for women who seek to terminate pregnancies on various grounds within the confines of the law.
In a previously published article on how men abet the act that has been unlawful for years, it is clear that there are various legitimate factors that push women to procure an abortion.
These women need assistance in arriving at whatever decisions that suit them in lieu of condemning and disapproving of their choices.
The government’s efforts in taming the rising cases of abortion should, therefore, be directed towards guiding and helping women who are desperate for these services.
An increase in abortion cases puts more lives at risk thereby calling for urgent measures to address the menace.
Banning Marie Stopes from offering these services is not the best decision because it will increase the number of backstreet abortions meaning fatalities emanating from abortion will increase.
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