Poverty, early marriage threatening sustenance of increased uptake of family planning-
The successes of a forty percent increase recorded in family planning uptake in Adamawa, is now being threatened, by multidimensional poverty.
Poverty, early marriages, unfounded myths and misconceptions are key issues, challenging the uptake of child birth-spacing in communities in Adamawa State.
These were issues raised at the Family planning Media round table in Adamawa, by stakeholders drawn from implementing partners the Challenge Initiative TCI and Development Communications Network DEVCOMS, the Adamawa State Government, traditional as well as religious leaders.
Chief Correspondent Ephraim Okpanachi, was at the brainstorming session.
I and my husband, will rest after each childbirth; that was the tone of advocacy in the song, placing proper perspective on the increasing roles of men in proper child birth spacing.
There was an abundance of advocacy speeches.
Imam Bashir Tahir, the Assistant Secretary of the Muslim Council in Adamawa, stressed that the message of child birth spacing, is focused on, in all 1392 mosques in the State were Friday prayers are observed
“The main thing is sensitization, our followers need to understand the implication of our actions”
Vice Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria CAN Adamawa Chapter Rev. Victor Saje, said CAN was not relenting on the subject, however the biting economic reality, had forced Nigerians to embrace child spacing decisions.
“The church has not slacked, we have been talking and we will continue to do so”
District Head of Girei, represented by Alhaji Sanusi Yahaya, wants more male involvement.
“In the traditional institution we have been working along to educate our people of the need of child spacing”
Focal person Family Planning Aishatu Garba Abubakar, and the Reproductive Health Officer all of Adamawa State, stressed that women, need to rest after deliveries and the goal is to scale down the rate of maternal and child mortality.
The permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Adamawa State, Pharmacist Bubanani Zira, stressed that the Adamawa State Government is committed with funding support
“State government intervenes through funding”
Godiya Yusuf, State Program Manager the Challenge Initiative TCI Adamawa, says demand for child spacing has significantly increased, nonetheless more advocacy is still needed.
“You can do demand generation, people will be aware but then if they don’t have skilled service providers, that is a huge hindrance”.
Nigeria’s population is expected to hit 400 million in the next 25 years, the worry even at this fora, is this, how can Nigeria cope with 400 million, if Nigerians are witnessing great scarcity of resources with a population of just over 200 million?
Well, the time to address this crisis is now