As part of efforts to decrease maternal and infant mortality rate in Nigeria, the Federal Government has said that it plans to launch a new campaign on family planning. The government also plans to ensure that about 7.3 million Nigerian women have access to family planning.
Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, Director, Family Health Planning, Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), said that the campaign would close the contraceptive gap in the country. She stated this during a news conference held in Abuja on Friday.
Adebiyi noted that the fear of side effects, norms and belief misconception among others were the major factors affecting the use of contraceptives in Nigeria.
She also said that most Nigerians did not have the basic knowledge about the importance planning in family life.
“Years after the first National Family Planning Campaign was launched, Nigeria has remained stagnated.
“The significant gaps still persist between knowledge and contraceptive use thereby creating marginal shifts in unmet needs for family planning in the country,” she said.
The director further said that the new campaign with ” The Green dot” would serve as the official marker for public and private locations where people can obtain family planning services that are Safe, affordable and effective in Nigeria.
Also speaking Boade Akinola, Director, Media and Public Relations, FMoH, urged the media to address misconception about family health planning by educating people on the effects and promote empathy and understanding among men.
“The media most often targets reproductive health programming at women or speak about family planning and other health issues at programs that target women.
“However, evidence shows that the decision on whether or not to adopt family planning is made by the husbands,” She said.
Akinola, therefore, pointed out that men needed to also be educated on how to assist their spouses.
