RuWCED Schools Stakeholders on Dangers of Abortion
By Njodzefe Nestor in B’da
 |
| Participants at RuWCED seminar on dangers of abortion |
The NGO, Rural Women Center for Education and Development,
RuWCED, has schooled medical doctors, nurses, peer educators, journalists,
school counselors and religious youth leaders on the dangers of abortion.
This
was during a series of seminars organized from November 13 to 15, at the
MINEPAT conference hall, in Bamenda. The over 80 participants were also drilled
on the national and international laws on abortion, the consequences of unsafe
abortion and the right approach on post abortion care likewise different
methods of contraception and their implications.
According
to Samuel Leboh, RuWCED staff, the seminar was organised within the backdrop of
the high occurrence of unsafe abortions and related consequences including
ignorance about the law on abortion in Cameroon.
Speaking
to participants at the workshop on unsafe abortion, a Reproductive Health
Expert, Anota Grace said unsafe abortion can pose dangers like bleeding,
anaemia, sepsis, infertility or death. She laid emphasis on Comprehensive
Sexual Education (CSE) and family planning, as a way to help prevent unwanted
pregnancies, which influences women and girls to abort at all cost, safely or
unsafely.
Day one
of the training on November 14 was with medical doctors from different district
hospitals in Ngoketunjia Division, NW region. They shared their experiences on
Post-Abortion Care (PAC), their challenges, and acquired new information on how
they can provide better care to their patients. They were also schooled on
family planning, post-abortion complications and management. With some
demonstrations, facilitators ensured that trainees learn and practice
appropriately.
On the
second day of training, close to forty (40) nurses from the North West Region
were trained on Post- Abortion Care clinical skills. Participants were drilled
by facilitators on abortion laws in Cameroon, some essentials of PAC, Manual
Vacuum Aspiration (MVAs) etc, with intensive practical’s. They had the
opportunity to interact with each other, pose numerous questions, share
challenges and advance suggestions on how their situations can be improved.
All
participants that turned out at the workshop appreciated the training and
affirmed that the knowledge acquired will help them in their respective tasks
when they return to various facilities.
"This
is what we need to have. It is not different from what we learned in school but
we need to refresh and update ourselves so I'm so grateful for RuWCED"
noted Ndah Miriah, a midwife and nurse at the Babungo Intergrated Health
Center.
The DMO
B'da Health District appreciated the initiative and encouraged RuWCED to link
up with other organisations who are already on the field. “At the level of the
district we are going to continue with the collaboration. During our district
coordination meetings, we’ll contact you to attend and build the capacities of
our staff who were not opportune to attend these workshops…”
A
stakeholders meeting was held shortly after the training in the presence of
some authorities.
During
the meeting, the representative of the NW Regional Delegate of MINEPAT
encouraged RuWCED to partner with her ministry to help advance their work.
This
was corroborated by the Representative of the NW Regional Delegate of Sec Edu,
Dr Tata Edwin, who is in-charge of health. He promised to facilitate RuWCED's
access to more schools in the region to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health
talks
The
Rural WomenCenter for Education and Development RuWCED is a none profit making
grass root organization that works to promote the health, education, livelihoods,
human rights and development of rural women, youths and children.
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