OGUN SOLICITS MEDIA SUPPORT ON FP/RH INITIATIVES

 

OGUN SOLICITS MEDIA SUPPORT ON FP/RH INITIATIVES

As part of efforts to improve on the gains of Family Planning (FP) indices and outcomes, Ogun State Government has called on journalists to support Reproductive Health (RH) initiatives through a better and more focused Family Planning reportage.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Ololade Kehinde made the call in Abeokuta during a media Parley, organised by the State Advocacy Working Group (AWG) in collaboration with Pathfinder International, saying they are critical stakeholders in the implementation of the initiatives.

"Media is the thermometer of the society, you are the door between the government and the people. The present administration is doing a lot to improve PHC services on FP through contraceptives and other consumables. So, I implore you to support the government by making sure that the right messages get to our people", he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola who said FP was not only beneficial to women but to the society as a whole, explained that it would prevent unwanted pregnancies, and help the government in its social and economic planning, charging the participants to continue to promote the various health interventions of the present administration to ensure that residents remained informed on the health provisions available for their well-being.

Earlier, Programme Officer RH/FP, Pathfinder International, Mallam Yusuf Nuhu said the objective of the meeting is to know the status of FP and how to engage the media to better position demand generation activities that would improve the State’s contraceptive prevalence rate, noting that they would continue to support media advocacy efforts through capacity building, content creation and documentation, among others.

In her address, the Chairman, AWG and Family Health Initiative (FAHIO), Mrs. Kemi Balogun appreciated the present administration for providing an enabling environment for Advocacy activities, and the media for its continued support in disseminating FP messages to the nooks and crannies of the State, emphasising that it had helped improve knowledge gaps of the people on FP.