The Ogun State Government, in partnership with the Society for Family Health (SFH), has intensified advocacy for the adoption of family planning among women of reproductive age to reduce maternal mortality and promote child spacing.
This call was made during the bi-annual review meeting of the Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC 2.0) project held in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders including health secretaries, reproductive health officers, health education officers, and monitoring and evaluation experts.
Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, revealed that the government had sustained the uninterrupted supply of family planning commodities over the past two years to prevent stockouts across the state.
Ogunsola added that measures are being implemented to offer postpartum contraceptives to women immediately after childbirth, a move he said would boost maternal health and reduce preventable deaths among mothers.
“We are prioritising the reproductive health of women by ensuring consistent availability of family planning commodities.
“This is part of our broader commitment to reducing maternal mortality and empowering women with choices,” he said.
Also speaking, the Business and Strategic Information Manager for the DISC 2.0 Project, Mr Fidelis Edet, commended the Ogun State Government for its proactive leadership in advancing self-care initiatives, including the rollout of self-injection contraceptive options.
Edet expressed concern over the state’s low modern contraceptive prevalence rate, which he placed at just 15 percent, stressing the urgency of scaling up awareness and uptake of modern methods to enhance sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
“The goal of DISC 2.0 is to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights by expanding access to self-care solutions.
“These innovations are vital for building a more resilient and responsive healthcare system,” he noted.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Stella Adebayo lauded Ogun State for its commitment to reproductive health, particularly the integration of family planning services into primary healthcare delivery.
She called on healthcare providers to step up community engagement and enlightenment campaigns targeting women of reproductive age.
“The success of family planning initiatives lies in effective education and access. Service providers must ensure women understand the benefits and make informed choices,” Adebayo said.
The DISC 2.0 project is designed to bridge the gap in reproductive healthcare by promoting self-administered contraceptive methods and supporting state-led health interventions.
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