Family planning gains more acceptance during COVID-19 pandemic in Asaba -Experts

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

rs Patience Abudu, a Family Planning expert has said that the number of clients for family planning programme in Asaba, increased new acceptors  during Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown.

Abudu, who works with the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Asaba, Delta, disclosed this during a round table discourse with newsmen on Thursday.

The theme of the discourse was:” The Role of Women in Family Planning at the Wake of COVID-19 Pandemic”.

Abudu noted the period of the pandemic was a trying and tough one for many families and this forced them to toe the precaution line to avoid unwanted pregnancies and to ensure financial discipline.

According to her, women are the home managers and must drive the process of family planning in the home.

“Family planning ensures discipline and proper child spacing in the family to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

“Many families have become aware, sought and taken up family planning at the FMC Asaba facility before now.

“But at the advent of COVID-19 Pandemic and the associated economic challenges, the acceptors of family planning increased at the facility.

“In April 2020, we recorded about 150 clients but following the lockdown and the intimacy associated with it, many families called to take up FP, so, we recorded programme uptake of 187 in May, it dropped to 177 in June, but rose to 192 in July at the FMC, Asaba facility alone,” she said.