Koudougou: The Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Burkina (SOGOB) convened on Wednesday to reiterate the legal provisions allowing safe termination of pregnancy under specific circumstances such as incest, rape, life-threatening conditions for the mother, and incurable fetal malformations.
According to Burkina Information Agency, SOGOB has organized a three-day training session in Koudougou for forty members from professional health orders, including the Order of Physicians, the Order of Nurses, the Order of Midwives, and the Burkinabe Association of Midwives. Participants hail from the regions of Yaadga, Kuilse, and Liptako. The initiative aims to shift attitudes and clarify values regarding the legally sanctioned practice of safe termination of pregnancy (STP) in Burkina Faso.
Unsafe abortion remains the fourth leading cause of maternal death in the country despite laws permitting STP. A lack of awareness among healthcare providers and the general public about this legislation pushes many eligible women to opt for clandestine abortions, risking their lives. In response, SOGOB, in collaboration with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has initiated a series of awareness workshops.
The session in Koudougou marks the fourth workshop following earlier ones in Ziniare, Banfora, and Tenkodogo. Professor Dantola Paul Kain, an obstetrician-gynecologist and focal point of the ISG/SL project, emphasized the workshop's goal to "disseminate the provisions of the law to members of professional bodies and health associations." He highlighted that Burkinabe law permits ISG in specific cases, including threats to the mother's life and pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.
Ms. Assana Traore, a magistrate and trainer, noted that while voluntary abortion is generally prohibited and punishable, there are vital exceptions designed to save lives and protect women, especially in the current security climate that exacerbates promiscuity and gender-based violence. She underscored the need to raise awareness among victims and stakeholders in health and justice sectors to ensure women meeting legal criteria have access to ISG.
This workshop is part of SOGOB's broader effort to make ISG accessible and safe, aiming to reduce maternal mortality associated with illegal abortions. The objective is clear: save lives by enforcing a law that already exists to protect women and girls in Burkina Faso.