The fact that free abortions are guaranteed at public hospitals and clinics around South Africa sounds perfect right? Considering that there are many women that can not afford or do not want to have any more children. However this "promised" procedure is not easily obtainable for some. These abortions will only be done if the woman is not over 13 weeks pregnant, and for many just to collect the money for the taxi fair to get to a clinic takes longer than that. Only half of the designated facilities that are said to offer the procedure actually follow through with it. Although this 25 percent increase over the last four years is a step forward, it is still leaving many women turning to unsafe, unhygienic abortions.
So great, the country gives a woman the right to have control over her own body and even says "we'll help you", but when the help is out of reach how does this really benefit these women? There is an easier access to these underground abortions and the advertisement for them is greatly pushed. Large posters posted near by to clinics and hospitals are seen by the two-thirds of women that are turned away for various reasons.
This is just unacceptable, and shows little care for the safety and rights of women. How many deaths from outside abortions will take to make safe abortions available to those who need it?
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