The Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, in collaboration with The Challenge Network (TCI) and supported by DevComs Network, has trained over 20 experienced journalists on media advocacy for family planning in Adamawa State.
After the training, the journalists embarked on a field trip to Girei Local Government Area, visiting two health facilities: Jabbi Lamba Primary Health Care Center and Sengere Primary Health Care Center.
Speaking with Irish Isaac, Assistant Manager of the Jabi Lamba facility, she affirmed that women have now embraced family planning to control child spacing in their community. In an interview with the press, Isaac pointed out that adolescents aged 11, 14, and 16, both married and unmarried, are adopting modern family planning methods considering the economic imbalance in Nigeria.
At the Sengere Primary Health Care Center, Nafama Dan, the Assistant Facility Manager, also mentioned to journalists that with more enlightenment, women are now willing to indulge in family planning to avoid unprepared pregnancies and properly space their children.
Dan noted that over 100 women visit the facility monthly for various types of modern family planning methods, and the services are free.
Faiza Ahmed shared her positive experience with family planning, stating that it has been profitable for her. She is excited that she spaced her second child for three years. “I came to the hospital on my own,” she said. “My husband encouraged me to go for family planning so we could properly space our children. This gave me enough time to rest and properly raise my first child. Now, my children are well-spaced, and I have had enough time to care for them.”
Faiza advised women to adopt family planning for a better family setting and to avoid the myths surrounding it. She encouraged women to see a service provider for counseling to find a suitable modern family planning method.
Godiya Yusuf, the Program Manager at TCI, noted that Adamawa is among the top-ranked states practicing family planning.
He called on the government to ensure the provision of family planning commodities for better accessibility for women.
