FUNDING FOR ABORTION
Madam, - Proinsias De Rossa M.P.(March 11th) is to be complimented for his frank admission that while the EU regulation "Aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries" may not seek to promote abortion it will provide funding for "safe" abortion in these countries. This has been confirmed by Mrs Ulla Sandbaek, the author of the report.
Citing the statistic that 13 per cent of maternal deaths in developing countries are the result of unsafe abortions he states: "All of us clearly have a responsibility to seek to bring this horrendous loss of life to an end".
But is "safe" abortion the way to achieve it? When I was a trainee gynaecologist in the UK many years ago, not infrequently we had to provide emergency care for young women who had had back-street abortions, so-called. Almost without exception these women survived, because of effective medical and nursing care.
In the provision of health care for developing countries there is undue emphasis on "population control" as the means of reducing maternal mortality. It is unfortunately true that more than 600,000 young women in developing countries die each year from pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions.
The maternal mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, is upwards of 200 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, whereas in Ireland it is four per 100,000.
For each maternal death there are, in addition, a number of women who suffer birth trauma, especially obstetric fistula leading to incontinence of urine or faeces, or both. The real answer to this appalling level of mortality and morbidity must lie in improved living conditions, with better education, better nutrition and effective medical and nursing care.
Five years ago, MaterCare International began a programme of training traditional birth attendants - most deliveries are conducted by TBAs - and hospital midwives, providing at the same time a radio-controlled ambulance and a small blood bank, at a district mission hospital in rural Ghana. The results so far have been encouraging.
IWith the co-operation of the Ministry of Health in Ghana and the local Conference of Bishops, MaterCare is now embarking on the establishment of a Birth Trauma Centre near Accra where young women who have suffered birth trauma, especially obstetric fistula, as a result of pregnancy will be treated and rehabilitated by Ghanaian doctors and nurses who will be trained to carry out this work, thus ensuring long-term sustainability of the project.
MaterCare International, through its subsidiary MaterCare (Ireland), is currently seeking co-financing from the European Union. Any assistance which Mr De Rossa can give will be greatly appreciated. - Yours, etc.,
Prof EAMON O'DWYER,
Chairman,
MaterCare International,
Lower Taylors Hill,
Galway.