NIGERIA, Niger: There has been a rising demand on family planning commodities since the commencement of lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic in Niger.
The Niger State Family Planning Coordinator, Dorcas Talatu Abu, has revealed that in the past two months, over 796,000 male condoms have been distributed.
Abu said during a Media round-table discussion in Niger that these condoms were distributed across the 25 local government areas of the state.
She also said that 11,000 Jadelle, 14,760 microgyon, 15,000 norist, 3,200 microlut, 77,600 Depo and 3,200 Santana press, which are all family planning commodities, were also distributed. “The government paid for these commodities to support the high demand…from the local government areas. We had to stock up [on] the commodities,” the state family planning Coordinator said.
She stressed the importance of couples continuing the use of family planning during the COVID-19 lockdown. Abu is worried that there will be a heavy rise in the population if the family planning services are not harnessed during this period.
Source – Justina Asishana
Concerned about the danger of not getting the right contraceptives, she urged citizens to patronize government or recognized private health centres and avoid roadside medicine shops and unregistered clinics. “If they visit quacks or chemists, no one will counsel them on the side- effects neither will they be tested to ascertain the right method to use,” Abu warned.
