Dr Eno Attah, Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency (AKSPHCDA) has urged men to embrace family planning initiatives to improve their standard of living.
Attah gave the task during a press briefing marking the 2024 World Contraception Day in Uyo on Thursday.
Our Correspondent reports that the theme of the 2024 World Contraception Day is; “A Choice for All, Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose.”
The World Contraception Day commenced in 2007, with the goal of improving awareness of contraception and enabling young people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
She said the theme highlighted the importance of access to contraception for bodily autonomy and achieving one’s full potential.
The secretary represented by Mrs. Stella Etim, Director, Community Health Services in Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said that family planning is not only for women.
She said the theme was apt, that everyone should embrace family planning initiatives, especially in this economic hardship to have a healthy population.
Attah said that family planning is essential for women’s empowerment, poverty reduction, economic development, improved health outcomes and sustainable population growth.
“Family planning is not for women alone, it is for husband and wife. It is not something that a wife will sneak out to go and take.
“Husband and wife should agree to plan their family for economic growth and empowerment,” Attah said.
Attah said that the state government was doing everything possible to ensure that fund is allocated to family planning to buy commodities and consumables for the citizenry.
She charged religious and community leaders in the state to join government and other partners in creating awareness on family planning in their communities.
In her remarks, Mrs. Enobong Eshiet, State Coordinator, Family Planning in Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said that commodities are always available in all health facilities in the state, for family planning services.
She charged women to see family planning as a choice and be willing to choose any method that is good for them to plan family size they could carter for.
She commended all donor agencies and partners for their support in disseminating adequate information on family planning methods to residents across the 31 local government areas of the state.
Eshiet disclosed that the media involvement activities has improved the uptake in family planning in Akwa Ibom.
Goodwill messages were received from; the Challenge Initiative (TCI), Plan Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, among other partners.
