KAMPALA, 26 January 26: The Uganda Joint Christian Council has insisted that the legalisation of abortion will have disastrous effects on the East African country.
Abortion is a life-changing event with significant physical, emotional and spiritual consequences even when carried out “safely”, the deputy executive secretary for finance and administration, Fr. Sylvester Arinaitwe, said.
The caution comes ahead of a meeting slated to take place in Maputo, Mozambique, at which the legalisation of abortion in Africa will be discussed. Several African heads of state are expected to attend the meeting.
– These are very serious developments to us as a nation and continent. We feel duty-bound to provide guidance and direction to leaders, legislators and the entire nation, Arinaitwe stressed.
The Church of Uganda provincial health coordinator, Dr. Lydia Kiryabwire, said 297.000 abortions are carried out in Uganda every year – a nation with a skyrocketing population.
There is no justification for abortion, she said, adding that there are no safe abortions. Health advisor Aniko Juhasz, who echoed her comments, said 91 per cent of abortions were not a result of genuine reasons but rather for convenience.
– Imagine if your mothers had chosen to abort you, you would not be here to contribute to the development of the nation. People should desist from abortion, Juhasz noted
Arinaitwe explained: – The medical facilities in Uganda at the moment are not adequate. Legalising abortion will worsen the situation and put more lives at risk.
Kilder: New Vision (Kampala) og The Push Journal
