Stakeholders Advocate Increased Local Funding for Reproductive Health Services

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A reproductive health advocate, Mr. Akin Jimoh, has called for increased state-level funding for reproductive health services in Nigeria to reduce reliance on foreign donors.

He also emphasized the need to integrate family planning into primary healthcare services, ensuring accessibility for all. According to him, this step would play a crucial role in curbing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and managing overpopulation, which remains a pressing challenge in Nigeria.

Mr. Jimoh made these remarks during a one-day advocacy training workshop for journalists in Benin City, themed: “Media Sensitization for Improved Family Planning Advocacy and Ownership in Edo State.”

The training was organized by Development Communications Network (DevComs) in collaboration with The Challenge Initiative (TCI) and the Edo State Ministry of Health.

Speaking via Zoom on the topic “Family Planning in Edo State: Sustaining Progress Through Local Resources and Media Advocacy,” Mr. Jimoh, who is also the Executive Director of DevComs, emphasized that family planning is not just a health initiative, but a long-term investment in both public welfare and economic stability.

“When families plan their pregnancies, maternal and child health improves, financial burdens decrease, and communities become more resilient,” he stated.

He stressed that Nigeria must transition from donor-driven programs to locally sustained family planning initiatives by leveraging community ownership and innovative financing mechanisms.

Mr. Jimoh also underscored the critical role of the media in advocating for family planning, urging journalists to:

Monitor and report on government family planning budgets and policy commitments.
Push for increased local funding and accountability.
Educate the public on the economic advantages of family planning beyond healthcare benefits.
Utilize digital platforms and community radio to reach rural populations with family planning messages.
Similarly, Olumayowa Adeniran, Media Engagement Officer at DevComs, highlighted that the training aimed to strengthen local advocacy efforts and drive media-led interventions to create sustained demand for family planning services.

Mrs. Adja Abieyuwa, Coordinator of Reproductive Health at the Edo State Ministry of Health, stressed the importance of advocacy to address myths and misconceptions about family planning, given its numerous health and economic benefits.

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Nkodya Nwanne, State Programme Manager of The Challenge Initiative (TCI), urged adolescents and young individuals to understand their family planning needs, noting that women bear 90% of the burden of pregnancy.

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