By Tolit Ivan
A new report by Gulu Regional Referral Hospital has revealed that learners are the leading contributors to the rising number of abortion cases in the Acholi sub region.
According to data released by the hospital’s Gynecology Department, more than 200 abortion cases have been recorded in the last five months, translating to an average of 40 cases per month.
The victims are mainly teenage girls aged between 16 and 20 years, both in primary and secondary schools.
Addressing journalists last week, Grace Lanyero, the officer in charge of the Gynecology Ward at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, said abortion cases normally increase during periods when learners are reporting back to school.
According to Lanyero, many parents fail to supervise and care for their daughters during school holidays, leading to unplanned pregnancies.
Abortion in Uganda is illegal unless it is performed by a licensed medical doctor in situations where the woman’s life is at risk.
Due to limited access to safe and legal abortion services, many women resort to unsafe abortion practices, including self-induced abortions.
