NIGERIA. Lagos State: Many women in the society have refused to use modern methods of family planning, the wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has disclosed.
She said this in Lagos during a Business Conference on Family Planning with the theme: ‘A New Lagos: Family Planning, A Catalytic Pillar for Female Empowerment and Socio-Economic Development.
“The state government is striving hard in making sure it reaches, educates and informs women of the need to know and understand the importance of using modern means of family planning in today’s world.”
Talking about the economic importance of family planning, Sanwo-Olu said that it cannot be overlooked, as it contributes to female empowerment and economic enhancement.
Sanwo-Olu added that with family planning, families will be able to have the number of children they desire and will be able to train and invest enough resources to provide them with adequate food, quality education, clothing, shelter and other necessary amenities.
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“It is an established fact that family planning enables women to pursue their educational and career ambitions, acquire more wealth, and contribute their quarter to the socio-economic development of their immediate environment”, Sanwo-Olu noted.
Challenges of family planning
The Governor’s wife stated that the continued growth in the population of the state and nation has posed challenges such as increased rate of unemployment, high rate of poverty, poor access to sanitation, poor health, poor education and increased crime rates.
She further said that one effective tool for tackling this menace is for families to have the number of children they can cater for.
“Contraceptives are free in all public health centers across the state, as all the means have been funded by the government,” Sanwo-Olu noted.
Also speaking during the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi revealed that in third-world countries they suffered more in their health sector because of continuous increase in terms of population growth that is not in line with the basic needs of the people.
Importance of family planning
Abayomi pointed out the importance of family planning in helping in the prevention of unintended pregnancies, for aiding unsafe abortions and maternal deaths.
“Due to growing modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR in Lagos state, from 22.7 per cent in 2013 to 29.1 per cent in 2018, the study estimates that the state has prevented about 167,000 accidental pregnancies, 59,000 abortions and 1,100 maternal deaths.
“However, women who are involved in childbearing spacing will always have time for other important activities like, education, pursuing their desired career and also learn more trade or skills to help better their living conditions. If this is tempered with it might cause and increase health-related issues, and can lead to deterioration in the woman’s life.
