Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government yesterday said that it has launched a four-year scheme that would promote access to modern contraception plan in the state.
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Jannet Angbazo, at a press briefing to mark this year’s World Contraceptive Day in Lafia.
Angbazo added that the Nasarawa State Government has intensified measures that would promote access to the modem contraception.
She said: “Earlier this year, the state had launched the four-year family planning FP/PPFP Costed Implementation Plan (CIP), recognising the fact that access to modern contraception is one of the key measures to drastically reduce the high maternal mortality rate in the state.
“Nasarawa State has revised the Task Shifting, Task Sharing Policy thus strengthening the efforts at ensuring lower cadre health workers to provide family planning services. This in turn will increase access to the services in all nooks and crannies of the state.
Angbazo maintained that the state has also inaugurated the Interfaith Forum on Child Birth Spacing (CBS), consisting of both Christian and Islamic leaders who are working together to promote Family Planning/CBS in the state.
“To ensure more awareness and uptake of family planning services, there is need to intensify male involvement through male engagement sensitisations at the community level, encourage spousal discussion on family planning and promote the benefits of family planning using the media and other community level channels,” she said.
Angbazo, therefore, called on stakeholders including the media, religious leaders, service providers, men and youths to work hand in hand to promote the benefits of family planning services.
“Government will continue to provide the enabling environment for the provision of Family Planning services and adoption of family planning as a lifestyle in all the communities as one of the means to promoting socio-economic development in the state,” the permanent secretary concluded.
