POLL: Should Gov’t Provide Abortion Services For Pregnant Women With Zika?
It was with great consternation that I read a recently published article that stated that a member of parliament is desirous of seeing the abortion law relaxed for pregnant women who are likely to have babies born with microcephaly.
According to the article published by The Gleaner, Opposition Member of Parliament Dr Dayton Campbell says the Government should consider making abortion services available to pregnant women who are confirmed to be carrying a baby with microcephaly.
“Campbell says women should be given the option to abort babies likely to be born with microcephaly, although Jamaican laws criminalise abortion except in certain circumstances,” the report also stated.
The MP, who is also a medical doctor supported his abortion recommendation by pointing to Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton’s statement earlier to the parliament that research from other countries show that 10 per cent of pregnant women who contract Zika may have a child with microcephaly.
He also stated that an ultra sound is able to determine if babies have abnormal heads which is a symptom of microcephaly.
Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age and oftentimes leads to brain damge.
Now, I am sure most of us are now aware how dangerous Zika can be to developing fetuses.
The virus undoubtedly should be a top concern for all women who live in affected countries and are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Though the symptoms are mild in most persons, for pregnant women, the effects of the virus can be utterly devastating. In addition to the very real risk of an unborn child developing microcephaly, the risk for loss of pregnancy is also increased.
Personally I am of the view that having an abortion equates to murder as a life is being taken, but at the same time, caring for children who are born with microcephaly can be a mammoth of a task.
The prognosis for babies with microcephaly is often times grim, and carries lifelong effects.
Some babies afflicted by this terrible virus die within their first year, while others live to age 35 or longer. Many microcephaly patients find it tough to live independently and hence parents, guardians or aides have to plan their financial arrangements and make provisions for health-care appropriately, especially if the parents or caregivers pass away before the child.
The mental and financial costs that will be incurred by those responsible for caring for persons suffering from microcephaly will be tremendous.
Resources are scarce for the majority of Jamaicans and with what I consider a sub-standard health care system, we really have to consider all options to try to prevent this virus from overwhelming our developing nation in the years to come.
Based on the most recent data, of 44 confirmed cases of ZIKV locally, seven are pregnant women.
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By Jason Edwards
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