Rivers Tops In Family Health Usage Nationwide

Rivers State has beaten the national average in adoption of contraceptive usage to boost family planning.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh made this public while announcing the release of funding for the procurement of family planning commodities for distribution across the State.
According to her,  available data from the 2018 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), the current national contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) stands at 17 percent, while Rivers State is at 19.6 percent, representing two percent performance rate above the national ranking/index.
“Rivers State has also taken the lead, among the comity of states, in providing funding for capacity building of family planning service providers and community mobilisation for demand generation.”she said.
She stated that the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has broken fresh grounds in healthcare sector funding with the approval and release of N126 million for the procurement and last mile distribution of essential family planning (FP) commodities.
The released funds will cover the procurement of “long-acting contraceptive agents like Mirena intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants (levoplant contraceptives) for women who desire to space their births for longer periods”; as well as “shorter-acting and barrier methods like male condoms, and Depo-Provera, the three-monthly contraceptive injections for reproductive and family health”, she said.
Dr. Oreh disclosed that the country aims to achieve a CPR of 27 percent in line with international development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 3 and FP2030.
In her words, “Specifically, I wish to commend His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for approving and releasing the sum of N126million for the procurement and last mile distribution of essential family planning commodities, in addition to capacity building of FP service providers, and community mobilisation for demand generation.
“The Rivers State Government under the dynamic and able leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has demonstrated leadership and commitment by facilitating this unprecedented release for the procurement of family planning (FP) commodities to further address the wide gap in funding for FP commodity procurement”.
She further said,  “This is with a view to increasing the modern contraceptive prevalence rate, reducing the unmet need for family planning and consequently reducing maternal, infant, and child mortality in Rivers State.
“The impact will include averting unintended pregnancies, preventing abortions, and averting maternal and child deaths”, she added.
While praising the Governor’s strong support and commitment to accelerating investments in the health sector with the aim of bridging existing gaps in healthcare infrastructure and services, Dr Oreh said, “I am delighted to express my heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, for his unwavering commitment to improving the health outcomes of our dear State. His leadership and guidance have been instrumental in steering the health sector towards excellence”.

Kevin Nengia