Self-managed medical abortion, if rolled out across the country is a game changer as it has the potential to open access to safe abortion services, which for a long time has been faced with many barriers.

With unhindered access to self-managed medical abortion, the problem of unsafe abortion, which contributes 9% to maternal deaths could be a case of the past.

In Zambia, unsafe abortion is one of the main five causes of maternal death. With self-managed medical abortion, treatment takes place within 24 hours, revolutionizing access to safe abortion care, especially in low-income countries like Zambia. Secondly, self-managed medical abortion promotes privacy and confidentiality, thus eliminating stigma and discrimination which for a long time have characterized abortion.

ZAGO’s focus is to be part of this revolutionary access to safe abortion care being an essential healthcare. For this reason, the project the society is currently implementing encompasses a number of advocacy strategies, including trainings. These activities, which are quarterly based are aimed at increasing knowledge and understanding among target stakeholders. Anticipated deliverables include training of healthcare workers; training of youths; training of SMAGs on self-managed medical abortion; sharing information on self-managed medical abortion with key stakeholders; advocating using various communication channels such as radio, TV, newspapers, social media and using international commemorations like ISAD, among others.

Against this context, ZAGO has continued to conduct sensitisation meetings with different stakeholders. In September 2023, ZAGO conducted two trainings for CAC providers on self-managed abortion. Target for the trainings included midwives, nurses and clinical officers as these are the majority of the CAC Providers in the health facilities. 30 CAC providers have so far been trained on self-managed medical abortion and have been asked to submit reports to ZAGO each month on the uptake of self-managed medical abortion. These reports are important as they will feed into the end-line survey expected to take place April 2024.

In the same period, ZAGO conducted training on self-managed medical abortion to youth. The training attracted 18 youth from 9 of the 10 target districts. The trained youth were provided with tools to conduct community sensitisation and are currently on the ground doing sensitisation. ZAGO is monitoring their activities through different platforms they are using to share their activities, not only with ZAGO but also other stakeholders. These activities will continue throughout the lifespan of the project. And with consistent community sensitization, enhanced engagement and sharing best practices – it is anticipated that access to self-managed medical abortion care shall be enhanced, leading to reduction of unsafe abortions and maternal deaths respectively. With increased awareness, self-managed medical abortion is indeed a game changer as it is poised to remove many barriers women and girls face to access this essential healthcare.