High patronage of family planning linked to harsh economy’

Social mobilization officers in Kwara State, under the family planning advocacy group The Challenge Initiative (TCI), have attributed the increased use of family planning methods by women in the state to the current economic situation in the country.

TCI supports Nigeria in scaling up positive changes in reproductive health, particularly in family planning advocacy.

Speaking with journalists during visits to some primary healthcare facilities in the Ilorin metropolis, the health officers said that although there are challenges facing the family planning campaign, “there is a sharp increase in the use of family planning among women in most communities in the district.”

According to a TCI social mobilization officer at Magaji Are I, Okelele PHC in Ilorin East local government area, Jimoh Olasheni, some clients access family planning due to the current economic situation.

He also mentioned that while there is a sharp increase in some communities, others are apprehensive about using family planning commodities.

“We carry out fieldwork about four times every month, which includes door-to-door sensitization in communities across the state. There is an adequate supply of family planning commodities, which are very affordable and sometimes free. We are committed to our work and will continue to sensitize people,” he said.

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Similarly, Mrs. Christiana Aderogun, a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) at Magaji Are I PHC in Ilorin, observed that women in the community have embraced family planning.

She attributed this development to the current economic situation in the country.

Aderogun, who noted that one of the challenges facing the family planning campaign is the lack of training and re-training of healthcare workers, called on the state government to train health workers on best practices to better serve the community.

Also speaking, Mr. Kawu Abdulwasiu, TCI Social Mobilization Officer for PHCs in Oja Gboro and Oke-Sunna areas of Ilorin, added that some clients complain about side effects from family planning methods.

According to him, this also poses a challenge to the campaign, as it sometimes discourages clients from using family planning services.

“We try our best to educate them on the need to revisit their healthcare facilities to choose family planning methods that are best suited for them,” he said.

The health officers also lamented that despite efforts to promote family planning in the state, some people request incentives before they are willing to use the commodities.

In their responses, Mr. Jimoh Olasheni, a Social Mobilization Officer for TCI at Magaji Are I Primary Healthcare Centre, Okelele in Ilorin East local government area, explained that they frequently encounter people requesting incentives.

He attributed this to poverty, hunger, and the economic situation in Nigeria, adding that people often ask for food items in exchange for using family planning commodities.

In a separate interview, the head of the Family Planning unit at Adewole-Adeta Ojukoto Primary Health Care Center in Ilorin West local government area of the state, Hajia Aisha Olatundun Abdulwahab, lauded The Challenge Initiative (TCI) for their support in promoting effective family planning in major healthcare centers across Kwara State.

Hajia Abdulwahab described the turnout of clients for family planning in the outgoing year as impressive.

According to her, the center has recorded over 4,000 clients from January to November this year.

She pointed out that Injectable Contraceptives are the most popular method among female clients due to their effectiveness.

The head of the Family Planning unit noted that TCI’s partnership with the government has significantly scaled up high-impact family planning services in the state.

She reaffirmed the commitment of health workers in the state toward effective collaboration with TCI.

Earlier, a social mobilizer in Ilorin West Local Government Area for The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Mrs. Balikis Ismail, said married couples have embraced family planning more than ever through face-to-face conversations, home visits, and discussions at their workplaces.

Mrs. Ismail observed that with the support of TCI, house-to-house family planning campaigns have improved, particularly in Ilorin West local government area.

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