By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, July 11, Mana: Malawi Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance has called upon faith-based and traditional leaders to champion access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and safe abortions.

Speaking during an interface meeting with Salima-based traditional and faith-based leaders on promotion of access to safe abortion on Wednesday, Youth Programme Coordinator at Malawi Health Alliance, Gertrude Kapyepye said unsafe abortions continue to affect girls and women.

She said the interface meeting was aimed at soliciting different perspectives on issues to do with sexual reproductive rights.

"Faith-based leaders have a stand when it comes to access to safe abortions, the same applies to faith-based leaders, therefore today we are shedding light that safe abortions are not only about terminating an unborn baby, it also has to do with conditions that are critical to the life of a mother," Kapyepye said.

She said creating a conducive environment where views are shared will protect adolescents and young women in the country adding there was a need to raise awareness on the tenets underlined in the abortion rights bill.

A representative from Pastor's Fraternal Salima Chapter, Geoffrey Mputa said the faith-based community was keen to understand the legal aspects of sexual reproductive rights, therefore engagements to solicit contrary views are always welcome.

"We are always seen as a grouping that does not understand sexual reproductive rights, however interfacing and hearing legal aspects from experts provides a holistic understanding of the issues," he said.

Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga said the promotion of safe abortions was important because women and adolescents continue to lose lives due to unsafe abortions.

"We have learnt that women and girls seeking to access abortion in the country must first present themselves before a doctor and expressly make a request for abortion services based on existing conditions. Therefore, it is about the safety of women and girls," she said.

She promised to promote dialogue on access to sexual reproductive health in her community so that girls' and women's lives can be saved.

According to the Centre for Reproductive Rights, it is estimated that six to eighteen percent of maternal deaths in the country was a result from unsafe abortion complications.

The interface meeting was organized under a project called Transforming Lives, through a campaign dubbed "My Choice Our Choice," with support from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, which focuses on the promotion of access to safe abortions among adolescents and young women.