KADUNA – Some women in Kaduna state have commended the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), an NGO, for providing accessible family planning services in their communities.
The women told newsmen in separate interviews that the intervention had led to increase in the number of women seeking such services in their communities.
Mrs. Dorcas Ikhuoriato, a 45-year-old mother of five, who lives in Sabon Tasha, said she now used the long acting method of family planning due to its advantage.
“I have been doing the injectables for the past 15 years but it has failed me and I am just adding weight, so I decided to change to the implant because I am of age and don’t need another child.
“Before the implant, I also used the loop, but the side effect was much and I had to go for scanning because the loop came out by itself.
“My stomach was big and I was adding more weight,” she said.
Mrs. Happiness Christopher, a mother of two children living in Romi, said she opted for the implant after realising that she was always sick when she took injections.
“Each time I collect injection, I am always sick and do bleed; I am happy we got good orientation about the implant and I decided to change because it has no side effect.”
On her part, Mrs Blessing Paul, 26, and a mother of two, said she needed to space her children and live a healthy life.
“I married as a teenager and I need to further my education that is why I prefer the implant,” she said.
The Head of Sabon Tasha Primary Health Centre, Mrs. Mary Madaki, said between 30 and 50 women access family planning services daily at the centre.
She said the women were given orientation and counselling on family planning methods and other health issues.
“I want to commend NURHI for renovating the family planning unit and for the training of workers.
“If we can get NGOs like this that will assist, the health sector will improve greatly.”
She advised women to plan their families for sustainable healthy living.
Madaki said more women now prefer the implant, but added that the centre has “sufficient implants and other family planning services available for women”.
Also commenting, Mrs. Comfort Audu of Romi Health Centre, said the turnout of women at the centre was appreciable.
“We have an average of 120 women in a month since the beginning of the implant method, most women dropped the injectables planning method for the implant,” she said.