From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
Marie Stopes International Organization Nigeria (MSION), a Non-Governmental Organization that promotes Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) has described family planning as a key factor to reducing poverty in Nigeria.
This was stated by Ogechi Onuoha,
Head Marketing and Strategic Communication of MSION during her presentation at a two-day workshop organized by the NGO, in collaboration with the Network of Reproductive Health Reporters in Nigeria (NRHN), held in Ibadan, Oyo State on Thursday and Friday, last week.
According to her, access to safe and voluntary family planning is a human right, adding that it is central to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Mrs Onuoha stated that in most developing countries, including Nigeria, some 214 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and effective family planning methods, for reasons ranging from lack of access to information or services to lack of support from their partners or communities.
“This threatens their ability to build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities,” she noted.
At present, according to Onuoha, 451 women and girls, out of every 100,000 die from maternal causes, noting that Nigeria’s Reproductive Health situation has a lot to improve on.
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