Workshop on 'Enhancing Safe Aborting Rights and Respectful Care for Marginalized Women' held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 29 2025: A 1-day workshop on "Enhancing Safe Aborting Rights and Respectful care for Marginalized Women in Manipur" was successfully conducted today at Classic Grande, Chingmeirong.

The workshop was organised by the Maternal Health Division, State Health Society, National Health Mission, Manipur in collaboration with Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRD) .

The event was graced by dignitaries, including Dr Chambo Gonmei, Director, Health Services Manipur; Dr Bantee Singh Konthoujam, Joint Secretary, Health & Family Welfare; Dr N Hemantakumar Singh, Director, Family Welfare Services; Dr Y Premchand, Joint Director, Health Department (Planning & Finance); amd Kshetrimayum Dinesh, Director, ISRD.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Meena Seram, advisor, Maternal Health, said that unsafe abortion is India's third leading cause of maternal deaths, with reports estimating around 8-13 women dying from unsafe procedures daily.

She asserted that despite being legal, unsafe abortions remain a significant public health crisis, driven by factors like low education, limited access to safe services, and lack of awareness about legal options.

She also highlighted the need to improve access to safe and legal abortion services and strengthen preventative measures such as family planning.

In the technical sessions, Dr Meena Seram delivered a lecture on the topic "Scenario of Abortion and Overview of Comprehensive Abortion Care & Model CAC centers in Manipur" while Dr Usharani Akoijam, Associate Professor, OB GYN, RIMS elaborated on "Abortion and its complications & importance of family planning in Post Abortion" and B Supriya Devi, Advocate Panel Lawyer, DLSA, Imphal East spoke on "MTP Act 1971, MTP Amendment Act 2021 and Legal aspects of Abortion".

Dr Achuina Golmei, State Nodal Officer, Maternal Health also gave a talk on "Importance of data and necessary formats of CAC" .

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