WCD: Embrace Contraceptives Options For Your Own Good –Group Advise

ThankGod Emeh… 

As September 26 every year is marked as World Contraception Day to create global awareness for the place of contraception in society, people of reproductive age and maturity are advised to embrace the use of contraceptives for its health benefits.

Marking the 2023 Contraceptive Day, with the theme: “The Power of Options”,  a contraceptive advocacy champion, Mariestopes International Nigeria Reproductive Choices, which believes “children are by choice and not chance” in collaboration with Imo State Ministry of Health have harped the need for consistent spread of informed awareness of various contraceptive options to individuals.

Addressing newsmen on the occasion at his office, the Director of Public Health in Imo Ministry of Health, Dr. Austin Okeji who represented the Commissioner For Health, Dr Prosper Success said the global awareness day as set aside by the World Health Organization is very important because it promotes open discussions in the global population about the indications of contraceptives,  noting that it promotes the rights of women and helps in the promotion of gender equality worldwide.

Dr. Austin Okeji

Dr Success added added that the theme comprises not just the contraception but spread awareness of the need for autonomy, and international efforts in family planning and reproductive health.

The Health Commissioner added that the Day plays a major role in the prevention of unintended pregnancies and as well reduces sexually transmitted diseases between partners and mothers to newborns, pointing out that it reduces unsafe abortion.

“According to UNFPA Survey, about 17.2% people do not use any form of contraceptives hence there are enormous challenges using contraceptives”

“The Ministry has given Mariestopes Nigeria the enabling policy environment in operating in the state since 2015. We have a functional and formidable Education unit that collaborates with various stakeholders such as NYSC. Schools etc. to create awareness of Family planning services. We have maintained a consistent stock level that serves the needs of the imolites across the 27 LGAS in the State through the
office of the Reproductive Health Coordinator of the ministry”

Speaking also, the State Family Planning Coordinator of Mariestopes International, Mrs Ndukwuba Edith expressed appreciation to the Health Commissioner for giving them an enabling environment for over eight years to discharge their duties.

Ndukwuba Edith

She added that the organization also works in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health among other collaborating bodies for logistics.

“I request commodities from the Federal Ministry of Health and other partners to supply us commodities where I in turn supply those commodities to the 27 local government areas. From there they will supply to the State Delivery points”

Adding her voice, the Clinical Training Officer, Chiamaka Okezie noted that informed counseling and seeking personal consent of contraceptive clients and guardians where necessary are mechanisms put in place to check abuse.

“We advise that a girl or child who is of the age of consent can go up to any of our facilities and take up this method after being thoroughly counselled, free of bias and free from coercion”

Chiamaka Okezie

Lady Okezie equally charged people who are sexually exposed to go for proper counselling at the Mariestopes partnering facilities to get adequate counselling in order to make informed decisions on the options that suits them.

The Imo Ministry of Health and Mariestopes Nigeria Reproductive Choices however identified that the hurdles about the product side effects, Religious and cultural antagonism, among others will be roundly eliminated by spreading aggressiveive contraceptive awareness through Open conversation about contraceptives to promote a clear understanding,  donating to awareness organizations and promoting accessibility to contraceptives so as to reduce maternal mortality, and criminal abortion.