Abortion Or Adoption?

IN most cases where abortion is contemplated, I believe that the child is an innocent victim of distressing circumstances, whose right to life is greater than the mother’s right to be spared the stresses of those same circumstances.

Many girls have felt different and empty after having an abortion, but one cannot expect a woman to have a child that has been conceived by rape or incest. Some women cannot look at their child without it being a constant reminder that the father of that child is perhaps a brother, uncle, grandfather, or cousin.Other women would find it difficult to look at their child realising that the father is unknown because she was raped.Despite the emotional reaction to rape, the child’s life is not to be forfeited – but what if the child is to be born into and brought up in unacceptable and harsh living conditions, undergoing problems such as malnutrition and living a poor life that won’t last long? In such a case… is it worth having a child or does one rather opt for the abortion? I say have the child! Why do we think so narrowly, let us broaden our minds and think beyond abortion! What happened to the idea of giving the child up for adoption? Namibia is a developing country, therefore theories of giving the child to strangers should no longer be thought of as a taboo.Most religions believe that a child is a gift from their respective gods, and if one is given a gift and you do not want or need it, why not give it to someone who does? There are so many couples who would like to have children, but are unable to conceive them.In most cases these couples more than welcome adoption, and children are assured of a loving home with parents who are eternally grateful to having them.Our Namibian law states that abortion is illegal, but never have I read articles in our Namibian magazines and newspapers about adoption centres in Namibia.I think that if the government wants illegal abortions to cease, it should start looking at issues such as adoption centres.This should be the next topic our politicians address in parliament.I think that social institutions of the state should support mothers in need, including those who prefer to give their children up for a better life with other “parents”.Our government should seek ways in which we can reduce abortion, and creating adoption centres and being more broad-minded about the adoption option are ways to do it.Helena-Ella Nghifindaka WindhoekSome women cannot look at their child without it being a constant reminder that the father of that child is perhaps a brother, uncle, grandfather, or cousin.Other women would find it difficult to look at their child realising that the father is unknown because she was raped.Despite the emotional reaction to rape, the child’s life is not to be forfeited – but what if the child is to be born into and brought up in unacceptable and harsh living conditions, undergoing problems such as malnutrition and living a poor life that won’t last long? In such a case… is it worth having a child or does one rather opt for the abortion? I say have the child! Why do we think so narrowly, let us broaden our minds and think beyond abortion! What happened to the idea of giving the child up for adoption? Namibia is a developing country, therefore theories of giving the child to strangers should no longer be thought of as a taboo.Most religions believe that a child is a gift from their respective gods, and if one is given a gift and you do not want or need it, why not give it to someone who does? There are so many couples who would like to have children, but are unable to conceive them.In most cases these couples more than welcome adoption, and children are assured of a loving home with parents who are eternally grateful to having them.Our Namibian law states that abortion is illegal, but never have I read articles in our Namibian magazines and newspapers about adoption centres in Namibia.I think that if the government wants illegal abortions to cease, it should start looking at issues such as adoption centres.This should be the next topic our politicians address in parliament.I think that social institutions of the state should support mothers in need, including those who prefer to give their children up for a better life with other “parents”.Our government should seek ways in which we can reduce abortion, and creating adoption centres and being more broad-minded about the adoption option are ways to do it.Helena-Ella Nghifindaka Windhoek