Speaking at a scientific symposium organized by the Kenya Medical Women’s Association (KMWA), Maryanne Nyamongo, a gynaecologist elaborated that given the high number of abortion-related maternal deaths, it is important to have the scheme cover such incidents.
In her view, abortion should be covered in the new health plan that seeks to offer universal health care for all the citizens.
According to Nyamongo, botched abortions cost public hospitals nearly half a billion shillings annually to treat related medical complications.
She was making reference to a Ministry of Health report dated February that indicated that in 2016, public hospitals spent Ksh533 million in treating post-abortion complications.
The women doctors further argued that most of these women require extended hospital stays in order to recover before they can be discharged.
Besides, patients with abortion-related complications require intensive care and the services of highly skilled health personnel.
"To stop the suffering of such women and the huge costs, the universal healthcare plan must comprehensively cover abortion within the law and contraceptives," Nyamongo stated.
Reports indicate that over 21,000 women get admitted to hospital annually due to abortion-related complications.
Out of these, 2,600 die from unsafe backstreet procedures given that the constitution prohibits abortion except where in the opinion of a trained health professional, an emergency treatment is necessary to save the life of a mother.
