From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Communities in Kaduna State are set to benefit from a new programme aimed at improving access to sexual and reproductive health services, especially child spacing.
The initiative, implemented by Girl Effect with support from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, is targeting underserved local government areas to increase awareness, demand, and acceptance of family planning services.
At an advocacy meeting hosted by the Gusau Institute, Alhaji Garba Umar Garkuwan Dan Barrhim said the project is being carried out in partnership with Hope for Communities and Children (H4CC), the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Board (SPHCDB), and the Bureau for Interfaith Community Development.
According to him the Ward Development Committees and religious leaders will play key roles in mobilising residents and passing messages in culturally acceptable ways.
He stressed that they are expected to support community entry activities, deliver sermons, and take part in question-and-answer sessions.
Similarly the the State Team lead of H4CC Hajia Hadiza Umar surmised that involving traditional and religious institutions would help address cultural and social barriers that prevent families from seeking reproductive health services.
Part of the advocacy drive, she explained, is to seek the blessings of traditional rulers to create an enabling environment for the programme to thrive across focal LGAs and beyond.
According to her, the goal of the programme is to empower adolescent girls and young women with knowledge and access to reproductive health services, promote healthy behaviours, and address gender norms that hinder their well-being.
