Kwara Media Advocacy, a group of professionals in the state launched an initiative that aims to tackle high childbirth rates and enhance family planning education.
The program, spearheaded by a coalition of health organizations and community leaders, seeks to provide comprehensive education on family planning while offering resources and support to help control and manage childbirth rates.
In an effort to raise awareness about the significance of family planning, the Kwara State media advocacy group organized a round table meeting on Tuesday, July 23.
The event aimed to educate citizens on the crucial role of family planning in improving individual and family well-being.
Dr. John Godwin from the University of Ilorin led the discussion, emphasizing the ongoing challenges Nigerians face in adhering to family planning practices despite extensive awareness campaigns.
He expressed concern over the pervasive misinformation surrounding family planning methods and commodities.
Dr. Godwin called on the government to provide free family planning commodities to promote widespread adoption of these practices. He argued that such measures could help manage population growth rates and enhance economic development in the region.
"Family planning plays a key role in all the Sustainable Development Growth (SDG), especially the first six once, because when the family planning is well utilized the population growth of such environment or society will be normalized," he explained.
"The resources can be better used, gender equality will be addressed, education will be properly used, and women will be more empowered for a prosperous society."
Family Planning Coordinator Bashirat Adebukola Jatto reassured attendees that effective and affordable family planning methods are readily available in healthcare facilities.
She highlighted the introduction of self-injection as a convenient family planning option and stressed the importance of post-partum IUDs, which can be administered within 48 hours after childbirth.
Jatto also noted that family planning services are accessible in all government facilities across Kwara State's 16 local government areas.
Demand Generation Officer for the Challenge Initiative, Mrs. Sharon Gabriel, encouraged women to make informed decisions about family planning.
She underscored the availability of these services and advocated for their use to manage population growth and support economic development.
"So we don't preach that this is the number of children we should have. Allow the woman to space childbirth. Let her be able to contribute economically to the family and the community."
"The family, community, state, and country will also benefit from it if we all take responsibility and empower our women."
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