Helpline set up to report abortions

From July 5, abortion clinics in Akola district will have to report abortions done by them within three hours of the procedure to a district administration-run helpline.

From July 5, abortion clinics in Akola district will have to report abortions done by them within three hours of the procedure to a district administration-run helpline. The clinic will not be allowed to dispose the foetus until a team of authorised health officials inspects it.

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“Clinics will have to keep the abortus (aborted foetus) or the remains in case foetus is not formed until an inspection team collects information on the it,” said Yogesh Farpat, programme coordinator to implement the Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act in the district.

Initiated for the first time in the state to curb the falling child sex ratio, the exercise is not aimed at identifying the women who opt for abortion, but to ensure accurate reporting of abortions, officials clarified. This is likely to prevent under-reporting of sex-selective abortions.

“We have set up a control room with 25 health officials, who have been trained by the civil surgeon, and an information collector,” said Farpat. At present it is nearly impossible to trace a sex-selective abortion back to the clinic where sex determination may have been done.