PHSAI advocacy boosts FP funding in Lagos - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI) has declared that its efforts gave boost to the family planning (FP) funding in Lagos State, reports NaijaAgroNet.

PHSAI chairman, Mr. Ayo Adebusoye made this disclosure in his address to mark the 2019 World Contraception Day with the support of Pathfinder International under the theme: FP Funding Advocacy Overview in Lagos State.

According to him, the Lagos State Family Planning (FP) Advocacy Working Group (LAWG) known formally as the Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI) was established in January 2015 with the support of Pathfinder International.

PHSAI, he said, comprises civil society, faith-based organizations, the media, and local government units for budget and reproductive health and family planning.

As said by Adebusoye, between 2015 and 2018, PHSAI efforts is beginning to manifest through series of meetings with the key stakeholders in Lagos State, including policy makers in the health sector, local government executives, community leaders and Reproductive Health and Family Planning Managers among others.

The essence of these meetings, he said, was to identify ways to leverage funds for Family Planning.

As such, he disclosed that presently, some 18 Local Government Areas cum Local Council Development Authorities “are now reported to be funding family planning consumables in 2018.”

In addition, he said that Lagos State budget for family planning doubled “from N86,740,000 ($240,944.44) in 2017 to N177,500,000 ($493,055.56) in 2018.”

In 2017, for instance, he said, the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board for the first time in history “created a specific budget line for family planning consumables in the sum N50,000,000 ($140,000). The same amount was allocated in the 2018 budget.”

PHSAI’s advocacy intervention, he said, is to improve family planning funding, reiterating the group committed to scaling up the lessons learnt by sharing with the state and local governments throughout Nigeria.





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Family Planning: Expert laments Nigerians reluctance to long active methods - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Family planning expert and a Co-Principal Investigator PMA2020 Nigeria, Dr. Funmilola OlaOlorun of Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, has lamented Nigerians’ reluctance to the use of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), reports NaijaAgroNet.

Speaking at the round 5 of the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA2020) survey presentation at a media briefing held recently in Lagos, by Pathfinders International, Dr. OlaOlorun also expressed dismay that many Nigerians are still very reluctant to the use of Long Active methods.

She equally told NaijaAgroNet the survey was facilitated by Johns Hopkins University and Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health.

Dr. OlaOlorun explained that the Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), are methods of birth control that provides effective contraception for an extended period without requiring user action.

Also, she said, LARC comprises injections, Intra-Uterine Devices (IUDs) and Subdermal-contraceptive implants to name a few.

“One in five women still have unintended pregnancy. People are still reluctant to use long active methods,” OlaOlorun said.

On Long Acting cum permanent methods among married women, she said, Lagos recorded 6.1 per cent in 2018, a slight drop from 6.3 in 2017

She urged for more participation and usage of long acting contraceptive methods will reduce frequency to health care centres.

The PMA2020 Lagos-R5 survey, she said, was conducted by the Centre for Research, Evaluation Resources and Development (CRERD) and Bayero University Kano (BUK), whereas the project also collected data from Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Rivers and Taraba States.

She stressed that the survey equally had support from the Federal Ministry of Health, National Population Commission (NPC), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Lagos State Ministry of Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health (Johns Hopkins University).

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Family planning: Lagos mothers choose options themselves - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Lagos mothers have disclosed that the choice of preferred family options were chosen by themselves without any coercion, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Most of the mothers who spoke recently to NaijaAgroNet during the 2018 World Population Day commemoration with the theme: Family Planning is a Human Right, and supported by Pathfinder International.

Some of those who spoke to NaijaAgroNet  included Mrs. Mojusola Oluwasegun, a staff nurse, Mrs. Akerele Deborah, and Mrs. Florence Famakinwa, alluded to the fact they willingly chose their plans of choice after careful counselling and affirmation that it’s a human rights to them.

The family planning methods available to Nigerians especially spouses include some 5 main types, namely the barrier methods, hormonal methods, Intra  Uterine Devices (IUDs) and natural methods.

As at the time of filing this report, NaijaAgroNet gathered that an estimated 6.428,000 women are using a modern method of contraception.

For Mrs. Mojusola Oluwasegun, 30: She likes family planning, so also her husband, just as she insisted on choosing it herself, obviously in fulfillment of her human rights.

“I like it and my husband also. I use implant. I choose it myself. I prefer implant,” she declared.

She also noted that the first time she used was allegedly told her system will change, but she started using it after her second child, even though she intended to use it after first child.

A staff Nurse, names withheld, who spoke to NaijaAgroNet at the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), Mascara in Alapere, Ikosi, Agoyi-Ketu, Lagos, affirmed that they encourage married women to choose a plan after due counselling.

“We allow mothers to choose a plan,” she declared, adding that however, when there are complaints are mainly on menses following too much and some weight loss, or adding of weight.

She described most of the complaints, especially on the weight as “psychologically issues”, while those who have excess bleeding issues are placed on medication.

Also speaking to NaijaAgroNet at PHC Ogudu, a teacher, Mrs. Akerele Deborah, started family planning in 2004 following a visit to a PHC after fourth child. As said by her, she informed her husband, noting that she had earlier did one family planning for 10 years and the last one was five years.

“There was no complain from my spouse. It’s a great benefit and I really thank the matron that introduced me to family planning,” Akerele said.

Pointing out that the first family planning ever, was condom, which somehow failed her, saying that despite using condom, to got pregnant.

“Luckily both of us were at home, otherwise it should have been a problem of infidelity,” she said.

Akerele emphasized that family planning has helped her family in spacing out, stressing that fiscal ability matters.

“If you want to give your children space of 2 to 3 years; it’s not easy,” she said, but advised women to adopt family planning because of themselves.

Equally, Mrs. Florence Famakinwa, 34, told NaijaAgroNet at same PHC, that she started family planning since 2012, but when she wanted to have a second baby, “I stopped and after second child. I decided to start IUD and my husband supported me very well.”

She noted that no side effect since she started this one, no issues, adding that the benefit of child spacing is very important and cannot be over-emphasized.

NaijaAgroNet recollects that the World Population Day was established on July 11 by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme since 1989.

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Family planning: Media executive, Fanimo warns on population explosion impact

NaijaAgroNet:

Media executive and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Dele Fanimo, has warned on population explosion impact on family planning, urging Nigerians to ensure they have family they can cater for comfortably, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Speaking during an advocacy visit to his office by members of the Family Planning Media Advocacy Working Group (FPMAWG) in Lagos, Fanimo dispelled myths and misconceptions around family planning in the country.

According to him, Nigerians must learn to plan their lives especially families so as to make certain they enjoy family lives to its fullest.

He also bemoaned the recent revelation by the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that the country now has some 198 population, describing it as a time bomb.

“The Nigerian population is 198 million and this figure has an implication on the country in all aspects of the economy. A quarter of this population is almost twice the population of Republic of Benin. The central of this is uncontrolled birth,” he said.

The COO said the implication of the Nigerian huge population can lead to increase in crime and prostitution, adding that with social dislocation, what a country gets is underdevelopment and a failed nation.

“Uncontrolled birth is unacceptable because when a man has a big family he cannot cater for, he will have to deny child A to send child B to school, leading to more miscreants, thieves, thugs and hoodlums on our streets, and the vicious circle continues.

“This is a huge problem, if we want to help the country, we must promote FP. Churches need to do more. Some of these things should form part of the Sunday sermon and mosque service.

“They need to demystify the myths and misconceptions to their members. Imagine a woman attaching child birth to inheritance. Some will say, if you live in a man’s house and no son, you will suffer when the man dies.

“Not able to cater for a large family can also lead to corruption because when you have more than you can care for, you would be force to steal,” he said.

He however called on traditional leaders, religious leaders and political leaders to help and demystify the myths and misconceptions of FP as the media cannot do it alone.

As part of contributing its quarter in creating more awareness on FP, Fanimo assured FPMAWG that Leadership Newspaper is ready to work with them.

He however urged the FPMAWG to see beyond newspaper publications but go to the rural communities, community leaders and other stakeholders to sensitize them on the importance of FP, they in turn will now be an advocate of FP.

Earlier in her address, the working group chairperson, Mrs. Umeha, noted that Family Planning (FP) has been a worldwide issue, hence the reason why world leaders, local and international donors and advocates from around the world gathered at an FP Summit in London on July 11, 2017 to discuss efforts to reach the FP 2020 goals and ensure that more women and girls around the world are able to plan their families and their future.

Nigerian government, she pointed out, made a commitment to increase the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) from 15 percent to 27 percent by 2020 at that meeting, stressing that government at both the Federal and State have shown commitment to the provision of free FP services to the entire women of child-bearing age in the country.

The reason for this is not far-fetched as different statistics and surveys conducted around the world, have revealed that FP program when effectively done, can lead to a reduction of maternal deaths by up to 34 percent and newborn death by about 15 per cent.

The chairperson was accompanied during the advocacy visit by some members of FP Media Working Group, including Chioma Obinna of Vanguard Newspapers, and Remmy Nweke of DigitalSENSE Africa Media, publishers of NaijaAgroNet and Pastor Olusegun Omotayo Adeboye as well as Mrs Shotomiwa Olubunmi, both of Lagos Advocacy Working Group (LAWG) and Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative(PHSAI), while the acting General Manager, Southern Operation at Leadership, Mrs. Angela Tony Iji, was also on attendance.

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Family Planning: LASG tasks media on accurate information

NaijaAgroNet:

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, has charged Nigerian media to ensure propagation of accurate information on Family Planning (FP), reports NaijaAgroNet.

Dr. Idris in his address to a three-day workshop on Advance Family Planning (AFP) Smart Media Advocacy by the Pathfinder International in Lagos, commended the orgnisers and enjoined all hands to be on the deck.

The Commissioner represented by the Director, Family Health Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Shade Oludara, said, “Media needs to spread the correct information at all times, and not confuse the people the more.”

Oludara who led a delegation comprising the Coordinator Family Planning, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Okaga Sidiat, stressed that Lagos would soon enter into some community health campaigns which media could help in propagating.

Equally, the Commissioner highlighted some traditions and misconceptions militating against adequate Family Planning uptake, especially on Modern Contraceptive Prevalent Rate (MCPR) in the state.

In some instance, he said, “Some people told our FP team in one of their sensitization programs that family planning is bad and as a woman, you need to bring out all the eggs God has given you by birthing, else it would turn to cancer.”

Equally speaking, Dr. Okaga, who doubles as Coordinaator, Reproductive Health in the state, urged media practitioners to always approach her office for confirmations and clarifications where necessary.

This, she said would forestall any misinformation, hence Pathfinder is trying to close this gap with this workshop.

She further outlined some key words media practitioners in family planning should take note of to include, Contraceptive Prevalent Rate (CPR), FP - family planning; and RH - Reproductive health to name a few.

According to her, when family planning is properly done, mortality rate will reduce drastically to over 30 per cent and meeting the target of 74 per cent CPR uptake by end of 2020.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Associate Director at Pathfinder International office in Nigeria, Dr. Habeeb Salami, said that the workshop objective is to change the narrative on family planning in the country for good.

Dr. Oludare later inaugurated the Lagos State Family Planning Media Working Group, led by Mrs. Chioma Umeha.

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