The Challenge Initiative (TCI) has trained media professionals across different media platforms in Nigeria on Family Planning. The two-day editorial planning workshop aims to support the expansion of high-impact reproductive/maternal health and family planning interventions across the country.
The training featured different sessions which equipped participants with the right notions on family planning methods, and corrected myths and misconceptions regarding family planning.
TCI’s Lagos State Program Manager, Dr. Omotunde Odanye, explained that the training for media professionals is part of the intensification phase to promote adequate and effective reportage of family planning.
Dr Odanoye, who was represented by Rotimi Oluwafemi, shared that the training is meant to build the capacity of journalists, because “to work in the space and report it effectively, there is a need to understand some concepts and the progress to avoid distraction from anywhere.”
He shared that TCI Project had closed out in May 2024, but it was extended to achieve the desires results.
Dr. Victoria Omoera, Reproductive Health Coordinator at the Lagos State Ministry of health, represented by Dr. Adeleye Latifu, Lagos State Family Planning Manager in her presentation ‘Understanding Family Planning Current Challenges in Lagos State gave an overview of the topic, a demographic of Lagos State and progress the state has made alongside challenges and strategies for wider users.
She highlighted economic difficulties as a major factor that hinder people from embracing family planning, while She also spoke on the current challenges faced such as, low commitment for FP programs, data management issues, and no/ late release of FP funds.
Dr Adeleye, who noted that Lagos State has about 353 public health facilities, 2,207 registered health facilities with 236 private facilities and 351 public facilities offering family planning services, said the facilities are not suffient to cater for the growing population of Lagos that moves in and out.
Dr. Mrs Ajoke Ashiru, the chairperson for the Interfaith Public Health Advocacy Lagos, addressed persistent myths and misconceptions of family planning such as the use of plastic wrap and balloons to represent condoms, reuse of condoms, washing condoms, breastfeeding hindering pregnancy and a host of others.
“Spousal approval, and cultural disapproval are amongst the many other challenges family planning is faced with. We need the media as much as you need us, so that you can enlighten people in rural communities,” she added.
Executive Director, Sustainable Impact and Development Initiative, Ms. Elizabeth Talatu Williams, also shared tools for FP as sustainable development thus speaking on the relationship between SDGs and FP.
She said, “The media should highlight how family planning reduces maternal and child mortality and improve overall health, share success stories, explain how family planning contributed to economic growth, showcase stories of women and families empowered through FP, address misconceptions in the stories to inform the public”
Adeshola Fanimokun, TCI Lagos demand generation and technical support lead educated participants about the methods of FP and its durability. She highlighted family planning methods to include use of condoms, pills, emergency pills, injectables, implants, IUD and the permanent methods: vasectomy and tubal ligation.
She also reiterated that family planning method is necessary for sexually active individuals to avoid the risks of unsafe abortion. She also expressed that women should be in charge of their bodies, giving room to heal and space their children.
Participants also embarked on a field visit to Akerele Primary Health Center (PHC) to have a direct engagement with FP subscribers.
Ajoke Daramola, the Officer-in-charge, Akerele PHC spoke about the rise in the number of interested users.
She said, “most women now ask to take the methods immediately after having their children at our facility, they are now informed and we do our best to attend to them with at no cost. We have youths come for it. We ensure that every method given to anyone aligns with their body type.”
While addressing the misconceptions around family planning, Daramola said “most times, people forget they are subscribed to a family planning method and start trying to have kids only to tell people the methods have caused infertility.”
Akin Jimoh, Program Director, DevComs while speaking to BONews advised men to subscribe to FP while encouraging their women to take suitable methods.
“Traditionally, we were not trained to give birth every year, look at the age gaps between our elder ones and the younger ones, you can count about 3 years. Men should involve themselves more and see women beyond house tools or baby-making machines,” he added.
The participants were eventually divided into groups for editorial planning for FP Lagos over the next 3 months on reporting/ coverage of FP, media forum, in terms of advocacy and content development. The training ended with the appointment of FP Lagos heads to sustain the editorial planning for 3 months.