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.”
Appeal has been made to the Delta State Government for quick release of the fund earmarked for Family Planning Services for effective sustenance of the services across the state.
The Chairperson, Advocacy Core Group for family planning, Barr. Rachael Obodo Obunseli made the appeal during a media chat 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.
Authorities at the federal and state levels have been alerted on the urgent need to scale up efforts to arrest unmanageable population growth that might arise as a result of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
This could be done through increased annual health budgetary provision backed by family planning allocation releases.
Mrs. Rachael Obodo-Obunseli, the Chairperson Family Planning Advocacy Core Group in Delta State stated this at a media roundtable in Asaba at the weekend, with the theme, "Family Planning Budget Line Release: The Great Imperative in Delta State".
Zoom media roundtable on “Why Access to Contraception is Critical in Covid-19 Response” , organised by the Development Communications Network (DevComs) in Asaba.
Prof. Josiah muthir a family planning expert spoke as Guest Speaker, According to him, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, families are compelled to stay home, day and night, for periods of between one to 12 weeks depending on the country or state, hence facilitating intimacy.
The Delta Ministry of Health has generated N319 million as revenue between May 2015 and October 2016.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Asaba while fielding questions on the ministry’s activities in the last 18 months.
Azinge said the amount represented the sum total of revenue collected by the Ministry and the Hospital Management Board (HMB) during the period.
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