As part of efforts to eliminate preventable deaths and improve the health and well being of women of child bearing age, the Ogun Government has said it will continue to invest in programs that will directly address maternal mortality and unwanted pregnancies among young adults in the state.
The Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board (OGPHCDB), Dr. Elijah Ogunsola stated this at a three-day Training on Media Advocacy for Family Planning in Ogun organised for Media Practitioners, Social Media Influencers and Press Officers from Relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies(MDAs) by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in collaboration with Development Communication Networks (DevComs) held at Continental Suites, Ibara, Abeokuta.
" Maternal health is very important. The plan of the state is to eliminate all the preventable maternal death by investing in Family Planning and other programs that will directly and indirectly speak to unwanted pregnancies which usually lead to unsafe abortion and deaths amongst women of child bearing age." He said.
Ogunsola who was represented by the Director, Primary Health Care, Dr. Salmot Sanni noted that the role of the Media had been identified as key in creation of awareness and dissemination of messages on Family Planning to the residents especially in the rural urban areas, adding that the training on Media Advocacy would go a long way at ensuring that right and accurate information were passed while dispelling myths and misconceptions.
She added that the state was also ensuring that it intensified the demand and uptake of various FP methods available so as to increase the Contraceptives Prevalence Rate ( CPR) through sensitisation and education of people in communities, emphasising that workers had been adequately trained and equipped to deliver optimum service in all public health facilities across the state.
Media Consultant, Development Communication Networks ( DevComs), Mr. Mayowa Adeniran said that the objective of the training was to establish media advocacy and strengthen the skills of media practitioners on effective reporting of maternal and child health issues with focus on family planning, urging participants to initiate and sustain discussions in FP on their various platforms and available programs.
The State Programs Coordinator, The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Mrs. Busola Oyeyemi said that the media play a significant role in influencing policy change and amplifying the voices of the people, emphasising that Equiping Practitioners with adequate information would translate into empowering them to provide appropriate information to the public, including policy makers, engage in advocacy for improved health outcomes for women and children.
Participants, Dupe Kaka and Kunle Olayeni noted that statistics had shown the need for media practitioners to lend their voices in creation of more awareness and increased uptake of FP, promising that they would put to use all available programs to and improve the state's CPR in at their disposal in their various outfits.
In their separate presentations, Mrs Jumoke Adekogbe, Remi Atolagbe and Bunmi Ojelade highlighted some of the benefits of family planning to the society to include improved wellbeing and overall health of mothers as it provides the opportunity to rest between pregnancies, promote appropriate use of resources, reduce infant and maternal mortality, as well as improve the socio- economic development of the country.
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