Dr. Ejike Orji, the Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, has urged Christian and Muslim women to embrace modern family planning methods. He emphasized that the use of modern contraceptives is essential for effectively planning families. Orji made these remarks during a roundtable discussion in anticipation of the 7th Nigeria Family Planning Conference, which has the theme “Journey to 2030: The Opportunities Ahead.”
Orji stated, “Christians and Muslims should accept modern methods because that is the only sure way to ensure they meet their family planning needs.” He cautioned that relying on billing and natural methods could lead to numerous failures. Drawing from his research with the Society of Gynaecology of Nigeria, he revealed that the religious group opposing family planning accounted for 45 percent of all unwanted pregnancies in the country. This statistic highlights the ineffectiveness of billing and natural methods for family planning.
He further explained that for those who wish to control the size and spacing of their families, modern contraceptive options are the most reliable choice. Orji also pointed out that there are regions in the country, referred to as hard-to-reach areas, where women lack access to healthcare services. He called on sub-national governments to address this issue.
Orji criticized state and local governments for their roles in the challenges surrounding family planning in Nigeria. He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to increasing the use of modern contraceptive methods to 27 percent by 2030. He remarked, “When it comes to family planning, people often blame the Federal Government, but it is actually the responsibility of the states and local governments to provide services.” He noted that the Federal Government, under the Minister of Health, signed a commitment in February this year to enhance family planning and modern contraceptive levels by 2030. This commitment includes allocating one percent of the national health budget to family planning commodities and services.
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