The media have been called upon to ensure that family planning education and sensitization get to every part of Anambra State, as the issue of family planning user charges came to the front burner.
This call was made during a stakeholder’s roundtable discussion organized by a nongovernmental organization, The Challenge Initiative.
Addressing participants, the state Programme Cordinator, The Challenge Initiative, Mr. Aneotah Egbe said they have been partnering the state in the area of family planning as well as fighting the issues of myths and misconceptions, religious and cultural barriers among others.
Mr. Egbe noted that the issue of family planning user charges was discovered to be one of the major setbacks militating against family planning, hence the need to assemble stakeholders to brainstorm and find an amicable resolution.
Anambra State Family Planning Coordinator, Mrs. Chioma Okedo explained that family planning is a pillar of safe motherhood, which reduces maternal mortality and morbidity rates, and listed some of their challenges to include, inadequate budgeting, cultural and religious beliefs and lack of family planning providers among numerous others.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala represented by the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr. Uchechukwu Onyejimbe, who thanked The Challenge Initiative for its support, revealed that the user charges was hitherto free in Anambra State until some Faith Based medical facilities started charging money and promised that government will look into the issue for the welfare of Ndi Anambra.
The Managing Director, Anambra Newspaper and Printing Corporation, Mr. Chuka Nnabuife spoke on what the Media must do to support the organization and the state government towards ensuring that Ndi Anambra embrace family planning, while Mrs. Ify Unachukwu of the ABS delivered a lecture on Family Planning service charge in Anambra State.
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