ABUJA, NIGERIA, 20/02/04: The first National Consultative
Summit on Reproductive Health came to a close yesterday
with the controversial issues of abortion and use of
contraceptives almost setting participants on verbal
confrontations.

The summit, attended by nearly 600 participants, had as its
theme "Strengthening Reproductive Health in the Context of
Sustainable Development". It was organised by the Nigerian
federal ministry of health in conjunction with the Planned
Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) and other
development institutions.

Since the event kicked off last Monday, session moderators
have had to contend with antics of anti-abortion
campaigners - mostly members of the Catholic Church - who
suspected that the summit had a hidden agenda of legalising
abortion.

Matters came to a head during the presentation of the draft
communique at the closing ceremony of the summit. Part of
the communique, which was yet to be adopted as at the end
of the closing ceremony, called for provision of post
abortion care and services for women who require them. The
anti-abortion participants saw this as a partial
endorsement of abortion, which might ultimately lead to
legalisation of the practice.

It was apparent that some sections of the hall wanted the
issue of abortion as discussed during the summit
readdressed and represented in the communique
before being adopted formally. This was not possible however,
and the communique was read out and assumed to have been adopted,
despite the protests of the anti-abortion group.

Anastasia Njoku, gynaecologist and secretary, Family and
Human Life Unit of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria
accused summit organisers of drafting the communique
without participants' input. He also alleged that the
summit was merely meant to rubber-stamp the agenda of
Western-based donor agencies who are the main conference
sponsors.

"I believe it is an abuse of rights to proffer solution to
any set of people without consideration for their values
and religious belief. I don't think its right to say
abortion is a way out for any group of people if you have
not first put into consideration what they think about it",
he fumed. "(Organisers) are simply out to preach abortion and
contraceptives all in the name of reproductive health."

Mahmoud Fathalla, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
and Chair of the WHO Advisory Committee on Health Research
said the issue of abortion and whether or not a foetus is a
human being whose right to life is being denied should be
left to the individual to decide. "Abortion is a personal
decision...(and) no one should impose his or her opinion on
another. If you feel you are killing a human by abortion it
is your opinion; if you feel you are removing a foetus that
is your opinion. The individual should decide what she is
doing", he said.

For many participants, it would have been surprising if the
summit had ended without the resurrection of such
controversial issues as abortion, contraceptive and
homosexuality.

"I'm not surprised at this development; such issues will always
come up and when they do come up, they are always divisive",
said Segun Fatusi, physician and Senior Registrar,
Department of Community Health, Obafemi University Teaching
Hospital, Ile-Ife. Fatusi also criticised the summit for
having no youth-led content and for not sufficiently
including non-governmental initiative in its planning
processes. "Notwithstanding this shortcoming, I think this
summit should provide the stage for reproductive health to
come to the fore", he surmised.

Foluke Shobowale, Country Director, Engenderhealth is not
expecting much fruits from the seeds planted during the
four-day summit. She believes a foundation has been laid for
improved participation of all sectors in reproductive
health issues, but adds that its success will be judged by
how far recommendations are implemented.

"We will still be talking about these same issues when the
next summit holds. But if there are actions following this
summit, we'll be talking about news issues too which will
come as a result of implementation", she observed.

Despite pessimism over what would become of reproductive
health and rights in Nigeria in the years to come,
Dr. Morrison Amaeshi, Director, Dept. of Community
Development and Population Activities, Federal Ministry of
Health, Abuja is very optimistic.

"Something great has happened. I can assure you its not
going to be business as usual with this summit. The
technical committee is putting finishing touches to the
report of the summit for necessary action.

"The report of this summit will not gather dust
on the shelves", he promised.