50,000 Nigerian girls die annually of abortion complications - NMA

MORE than 50,000 Nige­rian girl-children die annu­ally due to complications relating to wrong and poor­ly done abortions across the country due to lack of education available to the Girl-Child Education and awareness.

The Nigeria Medical As­sociation (NMA), Ebonyi State chapter disclosed that majority of the victims were young school girls who fell victim of pres­sures relating to adoles­cence stage as well as lack of sensitisation.

Speaking yesterday dur­ing the awareness cam­paign organised by the Committee on Girl-Child Education of NMA at the Model Girls’ Secondary School, Ugwuachara, Eb­onyi State, NMA Chair­man, Dr. Esike Chidi called on female students to take their studies very serious and avoid all distractions that often lead them astray to the level of indulging in pre-marital sexual ac­tivities which has been the major prevalent causes of unwanted pregnancies in girl children.

He said early and pre-marital sexual intercourse in girl children inhibit their chances of furthering their education and also expose them to various risks which includes unwanted preg­nancies which often lead to death of over 50,000 Nige­rian girl children annually.

Earlier in her welcome address, Chairman on the occasion and Principal of Urban Model Secondary School, Abakaliki, Mrs. Nneoma Obasi said the programme would educate vulnerable girl children on the need to protect them­selves.