Wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, has urged women in their productive age to embrace family planning therapy for effective birth control.
According to her, research has shown than 150, 000 lives of both mother and child are saved annually, arising from family planning embrace.
She spoke at the commissioning of the Ogun State Family Planning Training Centre, situated at the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, yesterday.
She said family planning was a cost-effective way to prevent maternal, infant and child mortality in the society.
“It is estimated that meeting women’s need for modern contraceptives would prevent about one-quarter to one-third of all maternal deaths, saving 140,000 to 150,000 lives per year. Thus, reducing unmet need for modern contraception remains a priority in global public health.
“Family planning reduces maternal mortality by reducing the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and the proportion of births at high risk,” she said.
Mrs. Abiodun asserted that the well-being of women and girls of reproductive age group, remained critical determinants of global and national health indices, decrying the prevalent maternal mortality in Ogun state, Nigeria and the world at large.
She also disclosed that the Ogun State Family Planning Centre would continue to build the capacities of doctors, nurses and community health extension workers, apart from providing save and protected environment for acquiring practical clinical skills.
She expressed appreciation to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) team for its financial and technical support in the establishment of the first family planning training centre in Ogun state.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has launched the State Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC), built with the support of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Mrs. Abiodun, on the occasion, commissioned the centre, located within the premises of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.
According to Mrs. Abiodun, the initiative was focused on providing quality and affordable health care to the people of the state with the hope of increasing the life expectancy of women and girls.
She described sexual and gender-based violence as not only a human rights violation but also a public health issue affecting all socio-economic and cultural groups to the detriment of both individuals affected and the society.