Abortions in Cameroon are highly restricted and only allowed in the following circumstances:
Cameroon suffers from a shortage of qualified physicians, weak health infrastructure and an abortion law that is rarely implemented or adhered to.
Many women and medical professionals are unaware of the legal abortion rights entitled to women and many women who seek to obtain legal permissions for an abortion are often faced with obstacles, which cause delays and lead her to seek an unsafe abortion elsewhere.
Only qualified physicians are allowed to perform abortions in Cameroon and the law requires that:
“The doctor shall obtain the opinion of two experts each chosen respectively from legal experts and members of the National Council of Medical Practitioners. The latter shall testify in writing that the life of the mother can only be safeguarded by means of the intervention. The protocol of consultation shall be made in 3 copies one of which shall be handed to the patient and the other two to the consultant physician and legal expert. Besides, a protocol of the decision taken shall be sent by registered mail to the chairperson of the National Council of Medical Practitioners.”
Note:
Obtaining such permissions is highly time consuming and often not guaranteed.
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These services are often expensive and as such, many poor and rural women are unable to access them.
The costs of safe abortions differ by facility (private or public) and provider. The costs can range between 10,000 – 20,000 CFA. Generally a medical abortion costs significantly less than a surgical procedure.
Note:
Many pharmacists do sell the abortion pills without a prescription, however they do not often provide proper instructions on eligibility, dosage and usage for a medical abortion. Please refer to the following page on our website for comprehensive instructions on how to use the pill: https:/www.howtouseabortionpill.org/howto/
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