By Beauty John, LAFIA
Nasarawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency has embarked on sensitization of adolescents on the importance of family planning, in a bid to mitigate unplanned pregnancies and mortalities resulting from unsafe abortions.
This was disclosed to journalists during a field trip to Primary Health Care facilities in Doma and Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, organized by Center for Development Communications (DEVCOM) and The Challenge Initiative ( TCI ), in collaboration with Nasarawa Primary Health Development Agency (NAPHDA).
Officer-In-Charge of PHC Nasarawa Eggon, Mrs Gloria Amos said the facility has embarked on mass sensitization and awareness programme in schools, to educate teenagers, on the importance of family planning to sexually active young persons.
“We have health education programmes we carry out in schools for adolescents, and we normally tell them, even if you are not married, you should access family planning.
“But if you come, we must counsel you on the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases( STDs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), she added.
The OIC explained that due to some adolescents inability to abstain from premarital sex, which often leads to unplanned pregnancies and in most cases, unsafe abortions, they are advised to opt for family planning services which are safe and administered at no cost.
Mrs Amos, who noted that the service providers are some times faced with resistance from parents and guardians of some interested adolescents, called on parents to allow their sexually active adolescents access the services, rather than lose their lives in the process of unsafe abortion.
Mrs Amos, used the occasion to correct the common impression that family planning is meant for married couples only, noting that access to the services has significantly minimized the number of unplanned pregnancies recorded in Nasarawa Eggon LGA.
While responding to questions from newsmen, Officer In charge of PHC Arumangye Doma, Mrs Aishatu Adeka, remarked that the side effects of unsafe abortion on health of women and girls of reproductive age cannot be overemphasized.
Adeka disclosed that years back, there were more cases of mortality, resulting from abortions than recent times due to sensitization carried out in the local government.
“We carry out door-to-door awareness outreaches and it has over time, minimized the rate of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions,” she said.
According to her, injectables, IUCD, implants, male and female condoms among others are issued to the patients, after proper tests and counseling.
Adeka , who commended the state government’s effort in ensuring steady supply of family planning commodities, however, noted that more supplies are needed for the increasing number of persons who seek the services.
