The continuing legacy of the Advocating for Safe Abortion Project in Zambia Association of Gynaecologists & Obstetricians (ZAGO)
Since 2019, the Advocating for Safe Abortion project has empowered many national societies of obstetrics and gynaecology to champion evidence-based safe abortion advocacy as national, regional and global leaders.
Since the end of their participation in the ASA project, Zambia Association of Gynaecologists & Obstetricians (ZAGO) has continued to spread awareness messages on its various social media platforms. The society prides itself in their continuous provision of accurate and evidence-based information about safe abortion to stakeholders including healthcare providers, policymakers and the general public, dispelling myths and misconceptions about abortion. In addition to being an active member of the Ministry of Health’s Safe Abortion Advocacy Group (SAAG) as well as other prominent SRHR-related initiatives in Zambia, ZAGO members operate in various healthcare facilities across the country. Therefore, through its members, the society is advocating for improving the quality of abortion services, including ensuring providers have the necessary equipment, supplies and expertise to provide safe abortions.
Through SAAG, the society have been conducting a ‘Research on Abortion Study (meta-analysis)’ that details access barriers and health outcomes in Zambia in the last 20 years, to inform policy and advocacy efforts to improve not only advocacy work, but also safe abortion care services in Zambia. ZAGO highlight their significant success of playing a key role in updating the 2023 National Standards and Guidelines on abortion care which provide a framework for healthcare providers to provide safe and comprehensive abortion care services in the country. Alongside this, the society has collaborated with the Ministry of Health to provide training for healthcare providers on comprehensive abortion care, including medical and surgical abortion methods. These trainings aimed to improve the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers to provide safe and quality abortion services.
The society also implemented a Self-Managed Medical Abortion Advocacy Project for one year (June 2023 – May 2024) that was aimed at providing the option of SMA to improve access to safe abortion care. ZAGO are proud to continue the momentum of the ASAP, which has helped reduce stigma and discrimination around abortion, encouraging more women and girls to seek care without fear of judgment or discrimination.