A document that would provide direction for a sustainable family planning programme in Ekiti State has been launched by the state government.
Titled Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan, CIP, the document encloses the detailed activities, strategies, goals and indicators to address all components towards achieving the state’s vision on family and reproductive health covering 2019 to 2021.
It was launched in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Thursday by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Olurotimi Ojo , who said that the three-year plan is aimed at achieving a Contraceptive Prevalence Rate, (CPR) of 69 percent by the year 2012.
He performed the launching at the Data Bank, Ministry of Health, Ado-Ekiti, where he was joined by the Executive Director, Balanced Stewardship Development Association, BALSDA, Mr Adewale Adeleye.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Ayotunde Omole, said that government is determined to increase the availability of family planning commodities in the state.
He affirmed that the plan would ensure the sustainable and successful implementation of the state’s family planning programme and policies in the coming year.
Noting that the state had adapted and implemented many national policies and strategic plans, including the National Population Policy for Development, National Reproductive Health Policy and Strategic Plans, among others, he said:
“Over the years, the Ekiti State government has adapted and implemented many national policies and strategic plans which included the National Population Policy for Development, National Reproductive Health Policy and Strategic Plans and National Guideline on Contraceptive Logistics Management system.”
The commissioner said that the state has a CPR currently estimated at 34.5 percent for all married women in the state, noting that only 26.6 percent of contraceptive users are using a modern method, while only 3.7 percent use long-acting methods.
He reassured that the state government shall continue to bring remarkable improvements in FP services and improve the health status of women and their children.
In her address, the Family Planning Coordinator, State Ministry of Health, Mrs Olukemi Akinleye, said that the launching of the CIP was a significant step made by the state government and its supporting partners, towards improving maternal and child health in the state.
She disclosed that the National FP Blueprint states that in Nigeria, 400,000 infant and 700,000 child deaths will be averted by achieving the CPR goal and that 1.6 million unintended pregnancies will be averted.
To this end, Akinleye assured that the ministry is well positioned to, in collaboration with all partners and stakeholders ensure availability of quality services that will lead to uptake of FP services in the state.
The FP coordinator assured that the CIP will provide a genuine tool for evidence-based advocacy and broad base resources mobilization to the government and all collaborating partners and agencies.
“The stakes are high and none should stand aloof, the private sector is hereby called upon to invest in the various thematic areas identified in the document,”she said.
Akinleye, while commending the state government for creating awareness on family planning, called for training and re-training of health workers as well as re-orientation of the populace.
The CIP launching was done in collaboration with BALSDA, while there were goodwill messages from partners and stakeholders at the launching.
