A Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Right Here Right Now, (RHRN) said that there is a need to broaden the circumstances under which abortion is permitted. Abortion is restricted in most circumstances and this has resulted in abortion being carried out clandestinely and the use of unsafe methods. RHRN said in a statement
We recommend that authorities broaden the circumstances under which abortion is legally permitted and educate health care professionals and the public about the legal provision in order to reduce the number of clandestine and unsafe procedures.
We also want to ensure the availability of safe, legal abortions services and post-abortion care in order to reduce ill health and deaths from unsafe abortions. Unsafe abortions can result in severe complications as well as high social and economic costs to women, their families and the health care system. Zimbabwe has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world, estimated at 651 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births in contrast to a worldwide trend of declines.
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