Vibi Yhokha
Kohima | January 13
Abortion as an issue has triggered debates and influenced policies across the world, with India on the verge of making amendments especially towards the reproductive rights of women.
On one hand, there is the emerging movement for reproductive rights to ensure women their rights over their body and reproductive health, which includes an individual’s right to terminate pregnancy. On the other hand, the right to live and the value of a life inside the womb is a pressing matter that cannot be ignored.
In Nagaland, as seen in a report published by The Morung Express, the number of abortions has shown an increasing trend over the years.
For Dr Kezha Tsürho from Bethel Medical Center, “life starts at fertilization.” “That’s scripturally right and medically right. The difference between a month old baby in a womb and a newborn baby is time and nutrition. We talk about of civil liberties, human rights, and how can we deny the very right of the child to live,” Dr Kezha stated.
General Secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Dr. Zelhou Keyho meanwhile said: “For Christians, our basis is that life doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to God, and the process of conception is also never something that we can manipulate. God is the originator of life and therefore we have no control over it. Our duty is just to nurture and to take care, beyond that we have no control. You cannot extend, and if you cannot extend you also don’t have the right to cut off. If we do that we are taking things on ourselves, we become the one responsible of when life should end or when life should continue.”
However with the increasing rate of abortions in Nagaland, a ‘Christian state’, Keyho wondered if Christians, especially leaders, have done enough after everything being said about the conception of life, or whether the dignity of life has been conveyed enough to congregations.
A leading Gynaecologist from Kohima, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that abortion is taking a life because once the ovum is fertilized, the life process starts. “In one way, it definitely promotes promiscuity but if we don’t do it, they will go to local quacks or they will take medications on their own and that will lead to complication. It is dangerous for the mothers’ health,” he added.
The church cannot compromise on abortion
Stating that the Church has failed to educate the sanctity of human life, failed to address corruption, and every form of wrong that is happening in Naga Society, Dr. Kezha pointed out that the Church often patronizes the rich, and the corrupt. “There is absolute anarchy in the system of running the state. Society has lost every sense of morality. All checks and balances are just thrown out of the window. We have lost all morality,” he said.
Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho added that the Church must confess its failure and repent. Further, the Church must speak out, and must not only condemn but seek ways to minister in order to save lives. “The silence of the church doesn’t mean that we condone with what we hear and is happening in our situation. Our voice on the sanctity and dignity of life should become louder. We must directly address the issue at its face and say abortion is not only wrong but it is a sin because we are not in charge of life, life is a gift from God and it belongs to God,” the NBCC General Secretary said. He added that the Church must speak louder and protect the unborn “A tribe, a generation is made to disappear from our land! A tribe is wiped out yearly through this sinful act out of the wrong decision, shame and in order the save face. We are moving from a culture of life to a culture of death and this is not Christianity,” he exclaimed.
Where do we go from here?
Vincent Belho, Branch Manager, FPAI Nagaland stated that abortion is not something a woman would want to go through. “There are people who say they are against abortion but they do nothing about it,” he said, while suggesting the need for sex education and use of contraceptives. Belho also pointed out the necessity of safe legal abortion because “people will continue to have their medical needs” and this gives grounds for quacks to flourish and make more money.
Dr. Kezha viewed that the need for a moral society is stronger than ever in Nagaland than anywhere else, and only when morality improves in Naga society, will it impact every sphere of life, including corruption at the political and bureaucratic level.
“Sensitization has to occur in every age group. Schools have to improve health education. It has to start from family level,” recommended Dr. Kezha.
