Kumasi, Feb.12, GNA - Pharmacists have been urged to play leading roles in the national crusade for safe abortion bring down maternal deaths. Nana Oye Lithur, Country Director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, was speaking at a seminar on reproductive health and medication abortion held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

It was organized by pharmacy students of the university as part of their 49th annual faculty and health awareness week. Abortion in Ghana can be carried out under clearly defined conditions as stipulates by the law, and this could only be performed by a registered gynaecologist or medical practitioner. Nana Oye Lithur however, wants pharmacists to be part of the group of health professionals legally permitted to terminate unwanted pregnancies. She said most women were already abusing all kinds of drugs and herbs just to abort pregnancies, putting their lives in danger. Nana Oye Lithur said medication abortion, spearheaded by pharmacists offered hope for reducing maternal mortality. Dr Abdul Razak Abdul-mumin, Consultant Gynaecologist, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) who spoke on the development and evolution of medication abortion as an intervention to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana, said even though medication abortion is good, not all pregnant women could be assisted.

He said suspected or confirmed ectopic pregnancy or women with haemorrhage disorder and inherited porphyries should not be given a medication abortion. Dr Abdul-mumin said there was the need for effective counselling to enable women to understand the options and challenges associated with this before it was carried out, adding that, there should also be access to a health facility in case of emergency.