Why sexual organ dummies are bad —Cleric

To ensure an increased uptake of modern contraceptive in Nigeria, the need to have Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials that are religiously sensitive to teach have been stressed.

Chairman, Advocacy Network of Nigeria, Shaikh Salahudeen Busairi, speaking at a media forum on Family Planning, said that most of the IEC materials are being criticised.

He declared that such materials used to teach how to wear both the female and male condoms, some people finding offensive.

“Dummies of sexual organs are something some people find strange. It is been criticised especially by the religious groups. Some people because of these training materials are saying family planning is encouraging promiscuity,” he declared.

Shaikh Busairi remarked that family planning was important in achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, adding that the body intend to coming up with IEC materials that would be more acceptable by all ages and groups.

While urging increase in media coverage and programmes to advance women and adolescents access to contraception, he stressed the need for individuals to be aware of its importance to child birth spacing to success in life.

“We are having many cases of unexpected pregnancies. So everybody must be aware of the importance of family planning to human success in life,” he declared.

The cleric noting that myths and misconception still abound on family planning, assured that the advocacy group will continue to mobilise public support for family planning services.

“We will always make sure that family planning projects are acceptable by the people in the community. Even if they have good ideas and the community is unable to grasp it, the success of such a programme may be jeopardised, ‘he stated.

He, then solicited for increased support for the group to expand its scope to all parts of the country, build capacity of its members on advocacy and production of IEC materials ,