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Death sentence in a cul de sac

DR. ANDREAS OBHOLZER WRITES:

Namibia is a secular constitutional democracy. This allows every citizen to follow their own belief, values and faith system, within reason.

Abortion is a reflection of a failure/mistake. It is an emotionally charged, divisive issue, on moral, ethical and religious grounds.

In a perfect world, it should not happen, but it does.

At fertilization/conception pregnancy commences. For various reasons, some pregnancies spontaneously abort.

The 1975 Abortion and Sterilization Act, makes provision for selective medically controlled abortions, if the mother’s life (physically or mentally) is threatened, in cases of non-consensual sex (rape), sex with a minor (under 16 years), sex with a mentally challenged person, and incest. Also if there is evidence of an abnormal nonviable fetus, and exposure to a teratogenic (fetus damaging) drug. The evidence has to be presented to a recognized tertiary state hospital for approval.

A child that is conceived in trial-and-error reckless lust (a glipsie) without contraception, a plan, backup, love and care, is exposed to a living abortion – the weggooikind scenario.

Adoption is an option. Orphanages often unfortunately has very poor reputations (see Ireland, Australia, Canada), even if churches are involved.

Life is a journey. Take your time, when you are ready and prepared, to take on the responsibility of a child in partnership (marriage/family/faith). You are the caretaker of that life. A child cannot choose its parents. The parents make/choose the child, for better or worse, by the grace of God.

Its future depends on physical and emotional support structures. If these are absent, failure is predictable. A “glue sniffing” street child begging at a robot, or a child prostitute is a living abortion, with a dark future. It joins stray dogs and cats in the pecking order of life.

Poverty is a massive handicap to opportunity, linked to poor role models, alcoholism and gender-based violence (rape).

A child (girl/woman) is a product of her environment. A backstreet abortion is often a death sentence in a cul de sac.

Sex counselling and access to user friendly contraception, should be available to girls within a year of the start of menstruation. One is not encouraging premature sex, but being realistic about the experimental nature of teenagers, and their exploitation by adults.

A woman (girl) not in charge of her uterus (fertility), is not free or equal (Melinda Gates). Boys, don’t impregnate your girlfriend before voting age, 18 years. Men and boys, use the Nangombe condoms.

Abortion is not a family planning/spacing tool. It is a measure of last resort and follow-up with counselling is required.

Let’s work towards a pragmatic, realistic compromised consensus in the National Assembly.

I support informed choice.

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