The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Medical Students' Association (NiMSA) has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to review the abortion law which is part of the Criminal Code of 1979.

The association in a communiqué, made available to daily trust after its NEC meeting which held in Imo state recently reads in part, "The Government and the National Assembly should review the abortion law from the Nigeria Criminal Code of 1979 which the country is still using to reflect the current standard of women's health and reproductive rights.

"This Law was adapted from the British Offences against the Person Act of 1861," the medical students said in the communiqué signed by its President, Patrick Ezie and the National Secretary Evarest Okwara.

It would be recalled that barely three weeks ago after the ECOWAS Health Ministers in a meeting which held in Nigeria, called on respective member states to reform their abortion laws based on observations that unsafe abortion was contributing a lot to high maternal mortality statistics in the sub-region.

Abortion law in Nigeria only allows the medical procedure to the performed when pregnancy poses a threat to the life of the woman.

The medical students also identified some of the major causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria to include unsafe abortion, breast and cervical cancer.

The group said that aggressive action from all health stakeholders is necessary to reduce the high statistics.

NiMSA said it appreciates the efforts of the Federal Government at developing a standard health care system and pledged its support for activities that will take the nation's healthcare system to the highest standards.

The medical students commended the Federal Government for its efforts against cancer and other major diseases prevalent in the country and called on international organizations to lend their support to the efforts.

NiMSA advised youths and the society at large to imbibe the attitude of voluntary blood donation as their contribution towards saving lives during emergencies.