Girl, 11, dies from failed abortion of pregnancy for her 21-year-old boyfriend

A 12-year-old girl named Augustina Gabriel from the Telekubukazo community in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region has tragically died, reportedly due to a failed abortion. According to 3news.com, she was pronounced dead upon arrival at St. Martin de Porres Hospital in Eikwe.

Jonas Kubatey, the Ellembelle Social Welfare Officer, confirmed the girl's death and shared details of the incident. There were suspicions that Augustina's death was a result of complications from a failed pregnancy termination. She was five months pregnant at the time.

It is believed that she took unprescribed medication to induce an abortion but experienced complications, prompting her to be rushed to Esiama Hospital. The hospital staff noticed that the placenta had already been expelled before her arrival. Due to her deteriorating condition, she was transferred to St. Martin de Porres Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The welfare officer revealed that the person responsible for impregnating Augustina was a 21-year-old man from the same community, and her parents were aware of the relationship. In fact, the girl occasionally stayed overnight at her boyfriend's house. Augustina's parents, who worked as herbalists, were aware of the situation and apparently benefited financially from it.

The young man has been summoned for questioning as part of the investigation.

Jonas Kabutey emphasized that Augustina's case is not an isolated incident. Similar situations occur frequently in the Ellembelle District. However, many parents refuse to report such cases, accepting money from the perpetrators and letting the matters slide. He called for the involvement of NGOs and other organizations to address this issue properly.

As the paralegal representative of the Western Region, he highlighted the need for extensive education in Ellembelle to prevent such occurrences. Despite the availability of free education, parents in the district allow their daughters to engage in relationships instead of attending school, which needs to be addressed urgently.