The Lagos State Government has announced the suspension of the implementation of the new policy guidelines on the provision of safe abortions for residents of the state.
It would be recalled that in June, the government, through the Ministry of Health, had unveiled the “State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications”.
Mixed reactions, however, trailed the move as prominent bodies such as the Catholic Church called on the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stop the implementation of the abortion guidelines.
In a statement on Thursday, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi said the governor directed that the new guidelines should be suspended until adequate deliberations are made.
Sanwo-Olu said the suspension would allow for adequate public sensitisation and stakeholder engagement to reach a consensus required for a successful guideline development.
The statement reads in part, “These guidelines have generated immense public interest which has necessitated escalating it to Mr Governor, who has advised further sensitization of the public and key stakeholders to ensure a clearer understanding of the objectives of the guidelines.
“To this end, we are suspending the implementation of these guidelines in the meantime for the Executive Council to deliberate on this matter and ensure adequate public sensitization and stakeholder engagement to reach a consensus required for a successful guideline development.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Health remains committed to planning , devising and implementing policies that promote qualitative, affordable, and equitable healthcare services to the citizenry.”