By Myra Elias:
Members of Parliament Wednesday called for urgent reforms to Malawi’s abortion laws to protect women and girls from unsafe procedures that contribute to maternal deaths and serious health complications.
The appeal came during a Legislative Theatre session, ‘Engaging Parliamentarians on Safe Abortion Access through Legislative Theatre’, organised by Theatre for a Change in Lilongwe.
The session brought together parliamentarians, health experts and civil society actors to discuss ways of strengthening the legal framework around abortion.
Vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Moses Mlenga, said there is a need for legislation that ensures women and girls are not subjected to unsafe methods when seeking to terminate unwanted pregnancies.
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Mlenga called for continued dialogue between parliamentarians, health experts, traditional leaders and civil society to ensure any legal reforms are inclusive and culturally sensitive.
“We must create a framework that protects lives while balancing ethical and societal concerns,” he added.
Mlenga also pointed out the need to strengthen advocacy and civic education within communities to ensure traditional and religious leaders are better informed about the dangers of unsafe abortions.
Vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Maureen Chirwa, said unsafe abortion continues to be a major public health challenge, contributing significantly to maternal mortality and morbidity.
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Chirwa further said lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure the country’s laws safeguard the health and dignity of citizens, particularly women and girls.
Chirwa further urged stakeholders to engage communities in awareness campaigns about reproductive health and the dangers of unsafe abortion.
“It is not just about laws; we must also educate and empower our citizens,” she said.
Executive Director of Theatre for a Change, Emmanuel Kanike, said the organisation arranged the dialogue to enhance legislators’ understanding of unsafe abortion and encourage reflection on policies that could improve reproductive health outcomes.
Data presented during the session show that unsafe abortions contribute 18 percent of maternal deaths in Malawi, with over 60 percent of women experiencing medical complications.
The Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which could address these issues, has not yet been tabled in Parliament despite Law Commission recommendations.
