9th November, 2012
The Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), has called on all Nigerians, both rich and poor, to invest in family planning in order to save lives of both mothers and their children.
The Project Director of NURHI, Mrs. Mojisola Odeku, gave this advice Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin.
Mrs. Odeku, who was represented at the meeting by Mrs. Toyin Afachung, said families benefit greatly when family heads plan the number of children they intend to have, and give enough spacing.
Mrs. Afachung debunked misconceptions that the use of contraceptive can cause cancer, infertility and harmful to the body.
“When family heads consider the use of family planning methods, the women and children benefit from it greatly, it saves their lives and reduces infant mortality and saves money,” she said.
She listed poor distribution of family planning commodities and insincerity by policy makers among challenges experienced by advocates of family planning.
“When our agenda and those of the policy makers do not tally, then there is conflict. They may decide not to release funds for distribution of commodities, most of which are wasted at the end of the day.”
She therefore called on family planning provider networks to get the general public, private and public family health providers to collaborate and sensitise people about family planning.
Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mrs. Cordelia Aiwizie, who was represented at the meeting by Dr. Osamwonyi Irowa, Director of Disease Control, Ministry of Health, described family planning as the pillar of safe motherhood.
She appealed to all stakeholders to collaborate with NURHI to increase wider use of contraceptives in the state.
She later unveiled the logo of NURHI at the ceremony.
—JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin