A Health Consultant at the Sunyani branch of the 21st Clinic, Dr Thomas Kyere, has cautioned teenagers and young women against resorting to unsafe methods to terminate pregnancies, warning that such practices pose serious health risks.
He said the use of herbal mixtures, unapproved medications, and other harmful substances to induce abortion could lead to severe complications, long-term health damage, and in some cases, death.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani, Dr Kyere expressed concern that several young girls had lost their lives due to unsafe abortion practices, and urged those facing unplanned pregnancies to seek professional medical care at recognised health facilities instead.
He noted that challenges such as stigma, discrimination, social pressure, and poverty should not push young women into unsafe procedures that endanger their lives.
“Using incorrect medical procedures to terminate pregnancy is very dangerous to the body system and one can possibly die in the process,” he cautioned.
Dr Kyere further advised adolescents to avoid premarital sex and encouraged those who are sexually active to adopt responsible protective measures to prevent unintended pregnancies.
He said teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortion continue to threaten the wellbeing and future prospects of many girls, stressing the importance of making informed and safe health decisions.
He also advised young people to be mindful of peer influence that could lead them into risky behaviours.
Dr Kyere reiterated that safe and confidential abortion-related medical services are available at health facilities, urging those in need to seek proper care rather than resorting to unsafe alternatives that could cause irreversible harm.
