By
Gloria Abutu
About 40,000 women die annually from pregnancy and child birth related complications in Nigeria.
In Adamawa state, the maternal mortality ratio is 676, above the national ratio of 512 out of every 100,000 live births.
It is against this backdrop that Development Communications, DevComs Network, a Non-Governmental Organization with support of The Challenge Initiative TCI, organized a 3-day training of media personnel, Social Media Influencers and Ministry, Department and Agencies MDA officials on Media Advocacy for Family Planning in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Family Planning is defined as “the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births.
It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility.”
In 2008, contraceptive use averted approximately 44% of maternal deaths around the world.
Access to contraceptives also helps to prevent unwanted pregnancies, some of which result in unsafe abortions, which is one of the leading causes of global maternal deaths.
A Family Planning master trainer at the Adamawa state Ministry of Health, Evelyn John, while highlighting the different Family Planning methods which could be temporary or permanent, noted that Family Planning among other things, reduces maternal mortality, enhances family health, promotes social well-being, reduces teenage pregnancy and abortion, improves quality of life and drives socioeconomic development.
She pointed out that Family Planning services are free, safe and effective and stressed the need for women to take charge over their bodies by embracing it, adopting methods that suit them, adding that the services can be easily accessed at Primary Health Care centers as well as other designated health facilities.
Describing the rate of infant and maternal mortality in Adamawa and the country as alarming, DevComs Training and Advocacy Lead, Onche Odey pointed out that Family Planning is a key development issue and charged journalists as vanguards of change, to intensify advocacy for Family Planning in the state.
Odey urged participants to tell compelling stories on family planning in order to prevent avoidable deaths of women and children and improve the economic and general well-being of families.
The TCI state Program Manager, Godiya Yusufu explained that the goal of the project is to assist the Adamawa state government in scaling up Family Planning and modern contraception by engaging stakeholders to dispel the myths and misconceptions around Family Planning for better health and improved livelihoods for the people.
Describing the media as indispensable partners in progress,Yusufu appreciated Journalists for the roles they play in driving development in critical sectors and harped on the need for 1% of the budgetary allocation to health to be committed for family planning.
In her presentation, Program Officer, Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH), Adamawa state Primary Health Care Development Agency ADSPHCDA Hajiya Fadimatu Hammanjoda noted that factors affecting the health and development of adolescents include genetic conditions, nutritional factors, the social and school environment, health services and specific policies.
She advocated life planning for adolescents through interventions such as creating safe and supportive environment, providing information and counseling, improved health services and empowerment with life skills which according to her, will help to prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections STIs, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions so as to enable them contribute meaningfully to national development.
In her goodwill remark, Commissioner of Information, Mrs Neido Geoffrey Kofulto described the programme as timely, in the face of prevailing economic realities and commended the organizers, while assuring them of government’s readiness to partner with them to improve the health of the people.
Participants at the workshop who were drawn from broadcast, print and online media expressed gratitude to the organisers for the impactful sessions and pledged to lead advocacy for Life and Family Planning in Adamawa state.
Highlight of the training was a field trip to Health Care Centers in Alkalawa ward, Nasarawo as well as Jambutu, all in Yola North local government area where it was observed that more women have embraced Family Planning as a pathway to achieve child spacing, better health and economic empowerment to enable them support their families.
Highpoint of the workshop was presentation of certificates to the participants.