Akwa Ibom Government Assures Improved Attention on Family Planning
The Government of Akwa Ibom State has assured that it will give more attention to issues of Family Planning in the State.
In Nigeria, family planning has over the years faced significant challenges including low contraceptive prevalence, high fertility rates, and substantial unmet need for family planning service. Cultural, religious, and socioeconomic factors, coupled with access barriers due to government low funding and misconceptions about contraception, contribute to these challenges.
The Government of Akwa Ibom State made this known on Thursday through the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel during an advocacy visit by Ibom Advocacy Core Group.
The Commissioner assured that the Governor Umo Eno’s administration understands the importance of family planning to maternal health and the economic development hence will put everything in place to address the challenges currently facing its uptake and unmet needs.
He noted that for the challenges to be addressed, the Ministry of Health will ensure that funds for the State’s contributions into the National Basket Fund for family planning is first captured in the budget coupled with budgetary provisions for consumables needed for the administration of the family planning commodities.
Emmanuel said he is optimistic that since Governor Umo Eno is a Governor who prioritises health, the funds when budgeted will be released adding that the ministry will play a key role to ensure follow-up.
The Commissioner noted that already plans are in motion for the employment of 600 health workers with final touches made on rural posting incentives to health workers in the State.
He promised the group of the Ministry’s readiness to deepen collaboration with partners and stakeholders on family planning issues adding that already the ministry is running an open door policy.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ibom Advocacy Core Group, Dr. Mandu Ekpenyong noted that the visit was geared towards putting heads together with the government to see how maternal and infant mortality rate can be reduced in the State through improved attention on family planning.
Ekpenyong requested the Akwa Ibom State government to join other states of the Federation in the funding of procurement of family planning commodities through the National Basket Fund for family planning and also procure consumables needed to administer the commodities.
While commending The Challenge Initiative (TCI) for the significant family planning support provided to the State across 10 local government areas, she called on the State Government to show more interest in owning the work done by TCI especially as the partner may soon leave the State.
The Chairman of the Group appealed to the government to employ more health personnel, train and retrain health professionals to enhance family planning in the State.