- So far, abortion is regulated and legislated in 30 entities in the country.
- It is the first time in the history of Mexico that the government designs a public policy to attend to the interruption of pregnancy in a safe way.
- The new document highlights that comprehensive abortion care can be performed on an outpatient basis in the first trimester of pregnancy.
The Ministry of Health, through the National Center for Gender Equity and Reproductive Health (CNEGSR), released a document of interest to all medical personnel. It’s about the New technical guidelines for safe abortion care in Mexico. In this way, the basic care criteria are established in the units of the sector.
This technical document, issued by the Ministry of Health, the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (Issste) and the Pan American Health Organization in Mexico (PAHO), is result of the strengthening of alliances to guarantee safe abortion care in Mexico with quality and opportunity.
Women’s safety comes first
In this regard, the undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion, Hugo Lopez-Gatell RamirezHe reported that The objective is that women and people with the capacity to gestate who require these services in the national territory, have timely, resolute and comprehensive care.
“Now it is necessary to turn the guideline into reality through disclosure so that the population is informed about solid and viable alternatives for safe abortion in Mexico.”
Guarantee the right to receive a safe abortion
He spoke out for carrying out a comprehensive reform of the General Health Law that allows harmonizing the explicit recognition for the United Mexican States of the fundamental right to safe abortion.
The general director of the CNEGSR, Karla Berdichevsky Feldmanpointed out that this reproductive sexual health policy is a priority on the international and national agenda.
“In our country, abortions are already attended, but the availability of services and the use of safe medical technologies are not homogeneous or up-to-date.”
International standards recommend the transition to outpatient abortion care – which reduces risks and costs – and classifies instrumental uterine curettage procedures, widely used in Mexico, as obsolete.
In the technical guideline, the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), which states that an abortion is safe when performed with a method recommended with the best available evidence, according to gestational age, with access to adequate information and the required care, by health personnel with the capacity necessary technique and space with infrastructure. Under these conditions, it is a simple and extremely safe procedure.
Health Sector presents technical guidelines on safe abortion in Mexico, 2022 edition
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– HEALTH Mexico (@SSalud_mx) October 22, 2022
Berdichevsky Feldman reported that it is the first time in the history of our country that the government designs a public policy to attend to safe abortion, which functions as a differentiated pillar in sexual and reproductive health actions. To date, 78 Safe Abortion Services have been enabled (SAS), even in entities that are going through processes of transformation towards federalization.
He stressed that this document provides legal certainty that work is carried out within a framework of security and legality, protecting the labor and health rights of users; eliminates barriers so that procedures such as the voluntary interruption of pregnancy in the event of rape occur in quality conditions that protect the rights of victims, as a priority strategic line.
The owner of National Population Council (Conapo), Gabriela Rodriguez Ramirezpointed out that this is a historic moment, because access to safe abortion allows women’s autonomy and social mobility, coupled with the fact that the decision to become a mother cannot be imposed.
PAHO’s specialist in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Adriano Bueno Tavaressaid that Mexico plays a prominent role in Latin America in this matter, where abortion is a public health problem. In Mexico it causes one in every 20 maternal deaths. This guideline guides health services to offer good practices with the best scientific evidence to guarantee the right to safety and well-being of women who need it.
Where can it be downloaded?
The document titled Technical Guideline for Safe Abortion care in Mexico 2022 edition is available online. Its reading and knowledge is essential for all health professionals because it guarantees to offer a safe abortion to women if necessary.
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