No fewer than 2,000 Nigerian women die of unsafe abortion annually, with the Northeast recording the highest rate, says Dr. Christopher Lamai, Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Lamai made the disclosure on Tuesday, during the capacity building workshop for journalist on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (WSRHR) organized by Ipas Nigeria, an international NGO in Gombe.
He said the rate contributed to 13 percent of mortality in Nigeria, as many women die from abortion more than malaria.
According to him, every eight minutes, a woman dies of unsafe abortion while an estimated 220,000 children are left motherless annually as a result of abortion-related deaths.
He advised participants to fully sensitize the public on how to undergo safe abortion, towards reducing the rate of mortality in the country.
Earlier in her remarks, the Ipas Country Director, Mrs. Hauwa Shekarau, said the objectives of the training were to equip journalist with the international, regional and national legal framework for the protection of WSRHR.
Shekarau said the training would also transform the attitude of the media on issues around WSRHR.
She said that Ipas was working closely with legislatures and law enforcement among other stakeholders on the importance of safe abortion to reduce the high rate of mortality in Nigeria.