Chiefs back abortion Bill

A group of Malawian chiefs are urging MPs to pass the Termination of Pregnancy Bill when it is tabled for debate during the current sitting of the National Assembly. In terms of the draft legislation, expectant mothers would be granted the opportunity to seek abortion in certain circumstances, without having to resort to unsafe backstreet procedures. The Nyasa Times reports that studies show that the number of Malawian women treated every year for complications arising from unsafe procedures is on the rise. These circumstances include, rape, incest, when the pregnancy poses a threat to the woman's health, or when there is evidence of a severe deformation of the foetus.