Asaba, June 26, 2020(NAN) Experts on reproductive health, have blamed the setbacks witnessed in family planning uptake in Delta on inability to access the N25 million budgeted for the programme by state government.

They spoke at a roundtable and media chart on Friday in Asaba, on the theme,”Family Planning Budget Line Release; The Great Imperative in Delta State.”

The need for intensified efforts at creating greater awareness on the numerous benefits of healthy family planning practice as a veritable measure against undesirable population in Nigeria has been stressed.

The urgency for all hands to be on deck in curtailing uncontrolled fertility levels or birthrate vis-a-vis increased unsafe abortion, maternal and neonatal deaths has been underscored by the outbreak of the COVID-19, the reproductive health experts observed.

About 80 child productive age women have assessed the family planning facility at Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State during the dreaded coronavirus pandemic lockdown, thereby recording sharp increase.

Reproductive Health Supervisor at the Oleh Primary Health Centre, Mrs. Atedezi Aforke who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday said the sharp increase in the number of users was a result of the lockdown, as the facility normally witnessed 60 and below monthly.

What will be the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our healthcare system? Will the provision of maternal and child services be affected as the response to the pandemic monopolises and depletes limited health resources? What are some of the health systems and community strategies countries can take now to forecast and prevent possible negative consequences? Currently, the African continent remains the least affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, significant increases in the number of cases have been observed. These numbers are expected to rise in the coming weeks.