Akwa Ibom govt urged to increase allocation, ensure fund release for family planning

Following the rising incidents of maternal mortality globally, the Akwa Ibom State government has been urged to increase the budgetary allocation for Family Planning (FP) as well as ensure the release of funds to address the gaps in family planning services in the state.

This was part of the resolutions reached in Uyo, over the weekend at the end of a media and stakeholders roundtable organized by The Challenged Initiative(TCI), a Non-Governmental Organisation in the reproductive health and family planning sector.

The Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Advocacy Core Group, Dr Mandu Ekpenyong in her paper tagged “Catalyzing Economic Growth through Funding for Family Planning in Akwa Ibom State,” said funding Family planning could be a strategic investment in a state’s economic development.

She added that the availability of family planning commodities and consumables would enable individuals to make informed choices about their reproductive health, improve health outcomes and reduce poverty and hunger.

According to her, “Government should understand reasons for funding and facilitating the prompt release of such funds to Family Planning units in the ministry of Health and other health parastatals in the state as such would catalyze economic growth and reduce population growth.

”Family Planning programs help individuals and families make informed choices about the number and spacing of the children they have.

“When families have fewer children the population growth rate decreases which can help in alleviating pressure on resources and infrastructure and lead to more sustainable development.”

On her part, the Family Planning Supervisor in Mkpat Enin, Mrs Nsima Umoh admitted the near absence of FP commodities and consumables in the primary health facilities which according to her was affecting the services.

While calling on the government and other relevant stakeholders to increase budgetary allocation for FP and provide more commodities and consumables to complement the efforts of other partners such as TCI, Umoh urged the traditional and religious leaders to always speak in favour of family planning to their subjects.

She noted the limited voices in support of Family Planning especially among key decision-makers in the state, saying the inadequate male involvement as well as myths and misconceptions have negatively impacted FP uptake in the state.

Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Rev. Isang Eyoumoh while harping on the importance of family planning to women’s general health and well-being noted that some churches were still held down by myths over family planning calling for more sensitization to churches, especially the men.

Isah the Secretary of the Muslim community in the state said the community had the misconception that family planning intended to reduce their population but now understood that family planning is not only about birth control but child spacing.

Earlier in his remarks, Dr Obase Sam Edet who spoke on behalf of the TCI Executive Director, Dr Taiwo Johnson expressed hope that family planning will get the required visibility in the public health sector adding that TCI was poised to break the barriers caused by the myths and misconceptions of FP and increase the uptake of its services through the provision of commodities and consumables.