The Cost of Stigma in Our Communities
Deeply rooted negative attitudes towards girls accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services are driving severe consequences in Salima. Adolescent girls and young women from Bibi Kuluunda are facing unplanned early pregnancies, maternal complications, and even death resulting from unsafe abortions performed in secret to escape social stigma. Out of fear of disrespecting cultural values or facing community mockery, many girls choose to avoid local health posts entirely, even when in desperate need of Post-Abortion Care (PAC) treatment.
Voices from the Ground
During a recent community engagement and lobbying meeting, one local youth shed light on this hidden crisis:
Girls feel self-done abortion is a solution to escaping early pregnancies and marriages, not knowing it is their death trap and root to many reproductive complications in future. Hence, we need to step up efforts to make sure services are accessible among our populace.
A Call for Collective Action
The time is now to create a unified community response. BCLD is calling for a joint community advocacy network to ensure women and girls have the liberty to access SRHR services safely and possess the collective power to speak up when facing early pregnancy or PAC distress. Together with AmplifyChange, we can dismantle these barriers.