Young woman dies after botched abortion

POLICE in Chipata have arrested a 45-year-old woman for allegedly causing the death of a young woman whom she provided a concoction of herbs to illegally terminate a pregnancy.
Eastern Province assistant commissioner of police Patrick Bili said in an interview yesterday that the 20-year-old woman died on Thursday last week at Chipata General Hospital.
Mr Bili named the suspect as Regina Mwanza of Vubwi Centre in Chief Pembamoyo’s area but withheld the name of the victim.
Mwanza has been arrested and charged with murder.
“The girl was a grade nine drop-out and a resident of Vubwi. She was allegedly given some herbs by Mwanza to abort a pregnancy but she later developed complications and died,” Mr Bili said.
He said the incident happened on February 17 when the young woman, whose pregnancy was in the early stages, went to seek Mwanza’s services to abort.
Mr Bili said the woman sought treatment at Mwami Hospital and other health centres before she was hospitalised at Chipata General Hospital where she died on Thursday.
Her body is in Chipata General Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem and burial.
Mr Bili said it is sad that the girl lost her life at the hands of a woman who was supposed to provide motherly guidance.
Mr Bili warned that police will firmly deal with individuals who conduct illegal abortions.