SAHAYOG and CommonHealth organize sensitization drives on Safe Abortion and Reproductive Health in Mayurbhanj

Bhubaneswar(11/10/2025): Voluntary organization SAHAYOG, based in Bhubaneswar, successfully conducted two vital sensitization drives in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, on the eve of International Safe Abortion Day.

These crucial programs were organized with the support of CommonHealth, a national forum committed to ensuring high standards of reproductive and sexual health rights for all.

Held under the Rangamatia CHC of Shamakhunta Block, the drives focused primarily on the reproductive health of young women, emphasizing contraception, bodily autonomy, women’s decision-making, and providing essential information about safe and legal abortion services under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. The first program, conducted on October 8, 2025, at Badasole Sub-Center, saw the attendance of over 60 participants and was chaired by Bijayalaxmi Rautray, Secretary of SAHAYOG.

After a welcome by STS Lipsaranee Pradhan, CHO Jyotirmayee Tripathy highlighted the critical importance of young women’s health.

Rautaray then facilitated a focused discussion on various reproductive issues, emphasizing contraceptive use and providing clarity on the primary contacts for accessing safe and legal termination services in case of an unwanted pregnancy. The second program, held on October 9th at the Kundalmani AWC-2, reinforced the message that safe abortion is fundamental health care and an undeniable duty of the state to ensure its accessibility.

The session educated attendees on the progressive MTP Amendment Act, which importantly does not distinguish between married and unmarried women seeking medical termination, thereby affirming the intrinsic right of every pregnant person to choose without needing third-party authorization.

Discussions also addressed the emotional support needed post-abortion, emphasizing the joint responsibility of family members and male partners in providing adequate post-abortion care.

The efforts of ANMs in counselling and ASHA workers in community outreach were acknowledged.

During the event, Gouri Singh, Chandamani Singh, Jamini Singh, Mili Behera, Hemabati Behera, and others shared their opinions.

The gathering concluded following a final call for the State to ensure seamless services to prevent women's mortality and lifelong morbidity, and a vote of thanks by Anganwadi worker Gourimani Singh.