State sued over decision to ban Marie Stopes abortion services

A non-governmental organization has sued the State over a decision to ban Marie Stopes from offering abortion services.

Network For Adolescents and Youth of Africa argues that the move is contrary to the constitution specifically the right to life and health.

The organization further claims that women and girls are now unable to access lifesaving services.

“The ban is a deterrent for any woman or girl in Kenya from accessing safe abortion and post abortion services owing to the misinformation it communicates and resultant chilling effect on health service providers who provide chilling effect on health service providers who provide safe and legal abortion and post abortion care services,” read court documents seen by Citizen Digital.

They are also seeking conservatory orders staying the decision by the Director of Medical Services to ban the provisions of post abortion care services by Marie Stopes Kenya as contained in his letter dated November 14.

They claim that there’s a real danger that comes as a result of the denial of emergency medical treatment.

“Any inordinate delay may exacerbate the medical emergency, leading to serious morbidity and in some cases, lead to a patient death,” the NGO said.

In the petition filed at the Milimani Law Court on Friday afternoon, the organization has also named Kenya Film and Classification Board as a respondent.

They want the court to overturn a decision that banned advertisements related to public awareness campaign on comprehensive reproductive health services undertaken by Marie Stopes.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board (KMPDB) banned Marie Stopes from offering any form of abortion services in all of its 23 facilities within Kenya.

The facility was also directed to submit, within 60 days, a report of the reviewed guidelines “to conform with the law”.