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NRHJN, Celebrates WCD, Calls For Stakeholders Collaboration
As nations mark World Contraception Day (WCD), an annual global campaign that centers around a vision where every pregnancy is wanted, the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN), a media advocacy group on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, has called on stakeholders to provide easy access to quality reproductive health care particularly access to modern contraception.
Contraception is the use of medicines, devices, or surgery to prevent unwanted pregnancy while assisting in quality family planning for sustainable development.
Family planning is the consideration of the number of children a person or couple wishes to have, including the choice to have no children, and the appropriate age at which they wish to have them.
As advocates of quality family lives and development, we note those things that may play a critical role in family planning decisions and these include, marital situation, career or work considerations, and financial status.
The recommended interval before attempting the next pregnancy is at least 24 months or two years, to reduce untoward risks to the mother and infant.
World Contraception Day is observed every 26th September, to raise awareness about the importance of contraception, accessibility, and why being able to use contraception is part of an individual’s reproductive health and rights.
The Day was first observed in 2007, to create awareness of all contraceptive methods available to enable young people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
The 2023 theme, *”Redefining Innovation and Equity in Family Planning and Contraception”* is apt as it emphasizes that
contraceptive information and services are fundamental to the health and human rights of all individuals.
The prevention of unintended pregnancies helps to lower maternal ill-health and the number of pregnancy-related deaths.
1953 Biologists John Rock, and Gregory Pincus, team up to develop the birth control pill.
The first ‘official’ contraception to be invented was likely the Condom.
Condoms as a method of preventing STIs have been used since at least 1564. Rubber condoms became available in 1855, followed by latex condoms in the 1920s.
It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. As of 2019, globally around 21% of those using birth control use a condom, making it the second-most common method after female sterilization (24%).
Rates of condom use are highest in the East
Contraceptives prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the number of abortions, and lower the incidence of death and disability related to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Family planning saves lives.
Globally in 2019, 44 per cent of women of reproductive age were using a modern method of contraception.
This comprises 91 per cent of all contraceptive users; the remaining 9 per cent were using traditional methods.
Also in 2022, the contraception prevalence rate among women in Nigeria was measured at 18 percent.
Among Nigerian women who were married or in a union, the rate stood at 21 percent. Women aged 15 to 49 were considered.
Types of Contraception include implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs) injections, oral contraceptive pills and vaginal rings.
The modern methods of contraception include the pill, female and male sterilization, IUD, injectables, implants, male and female condoms, diaphragm, and emergency contraception.
According to Medical Experts, the ideal contraceptive should be convenient, easily available, effective and reversible with the least side effects. It should also prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Oral contraceptives, for instance, not only prevent pregnancy but further reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer and do not change the risk of breast cancer. They protect against acute pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancies and reduce menstrual bleeding and painful menstruation cramps. However, oral contraceptives increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Sadly, Contraceptive use in Nigeria has been consistently low despite its many benefits and several efforts by government and development partners to increase the uptake.
According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, the use of any modern method staggeringly increased from 4 to 12 per cent over 28 years, between 1990 and 2018.
Furthermore, there are numerous challenges to utilization of family planning methods across the globe, despite the high awareness and acceptability by women. These barriers were; concerns about the safety of the methods to health, husband’s opposition, religious prohibition, lack of funds, desire for more children and fear of side effects.
NRHJN therefore called on the government at all levels to ensure the availability of these commodities and easy access to such by all age groups.
Also, efforts must be put in place to ensure that women are not denied their rights to access safe and voluntary family planning services.
Simply because this will hinder their ability to build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.
In addition, The Network of Reproductive Health Journalists called for massive awareness creation through sensitisation on the benefits inherent in Child-Spacing.
As reproductive health writers and advocates, we encourage the men to support their wives in this aspect and urge every individual Nigerian of Reproductive age, to be intentional and responsible with their sexual and reproductive health and lifestyle irrespective of faith.
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has urged for necessary measures to protect journalists and other media workers during this weekend’s off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.
The group sent the request to the federal and state governments, as well as law enforcement and security agencies, stressing that the role of journalists in disseminating information about the electoral process is critical to ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.
In a statement issued ahead of the elections in Lagos and signed by the Communications Officer, Media Rights Agenda, Idowu Adewale, MRA also urged journalists to be cautious and to use its existing hotline (08138755660) to report any threat or attack they may encounter during the process, as well as any obstacle.
Adewale said in the statement: “Given the pattern of heightened attacks on journalists and the media during previous elections, including the recent 2023 general elections, as well as the tense political climate in the three states in the lead-up to the elections, measures must be taken to ensure general security during the elections and provide adequate protection for journalists covering the elections.”
“Access to information allows citizens and other members of the public to have the information they need about political and electoral processes, facilitating effective public participation in elections,” he says.
“Journalists and the media play an important role in ensuring residents and other members of the public have access to information and may participate in the process.
“As part of efforts to preserve the integrity of the polls, it is also critical that the safety and well-being of these interlocutors be assured and safeguarded.”
Lamenting the increased number of attacks on journalists in the run-up to the off-cycle elections, as well as earlier this year in the run-up to the general elections, he emphasised that “a free and vibrant media is fundamental to a healthy democracy, and journalists must be able to carry out their duties without fear, coercion, or violence.” During this vital phase, MRA stands ready to assist them and assure their safety.”
Men from the Edo State Police Command are said to have detained Mrs. Toluige Olokoobi’s husband after he allegedly murdered her.
Olokoobi was the mother of Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola, the tiny boy whose video went viral in 2020 after he pleaded with his mother, “Mummy be calming down.”
Oreofeoluwa rose to prominence on social media after a video of him crying in an attempt to confidently appeal to his mother, who chastised him, went viral.
The film inspired Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who used it to deliver an Eid-el-Kabir appeal to Muslims and Lagos people in general to remain calm during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Following that, the youngster and his family met with the governor, who praised his bravery and poise.
While little has been heard about the family in three years, heartbreaking news broke on social media on Tuesday that the boy’s mother had committed suicide.
According to an X user, Olokoobi committed suicide in Benin, the capital of Edo State, for unknown reasons.
The X user, who stated that he was present at the site on Monday afternoon, went on to say that she had refused to disclose her difficulties with anyone before committing herself.
“The woman in the viral Mummy Calm Down video has just committed suicide here in Benin,” he stated in an email.
“She refused to discuss her problems with anyone.” She abandoned three children for her husband, including the well-known Mummy Calm Down boy.”
Meanwhile, confirming Olokoobi’s death in a chat with BBC Pidgin, the spokesperson of the Edo State police command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said her husband has been arrested and detained for questioning.
Nwabuzor said the husband reported the matter to the police.
The police spokesperson quoted the husband to have said that “he came home from the market when he saw his wife hanging with rope on her neck”.
Nwabuzor said she was rushed to the hospital and then to the mortuary after she was confirmed dead. (Adapted from a Vanguard report).
The Anambra State Police Command Headquarters Conference Hall was a hive of activity Thursday as CP Aderemi Adeoye took turns decorating around 18 promoted officers of the command with their new titles.
The delight of some of the officers whose wives assisted the CP in decorating their husbands with their new ranks knew no bounds, as their husbands duly saluted their wives and the CP for their new positions and responsibilities.
Obi Innocent, one of the officers elevated to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), whose wife joined CP Aderemi Adeoye in adorning him with his new rank, said it was wonderful that the Inspector General of Police thought him worthy.
CSP Obi Innocent, the officer in charge of the Legal Department at Zone 13, Police Zonal Headquarters Ukpo, stated that his new rank was a call to service and that he would do his best to uphold the charge given to them by CP Aderemi Adeoye to respect and protect the citizenry’s fundamental rights in the discharge of their new assignments.
Charity Akharame, who was honoured with the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and was the only female officer among the 18 promoted officers decorated with new ranks, said it was not an easy feat but she was grateful to be among those who were decorated with their new ranks.
DSP Charity Akharame, the officer in charge of stores in the Anambra State Police Command, recalled how she began as a Police Constable and worked her way up to her current position as Deputy Superintendent of Police.
She stated that as a very disciplined police officer, she would follow the Police Commissioner’s directions regarding respect for all and sundry in the fulfillment of her constitutional obligations.
Jane-Frances Obi, one of the spouses of the officers elevated to the level of CSP, stated that being the wife of a police officer was not an easy assignment. As a result, she recommended any lady who is married to a police officer to be patient and understanding because the job is quite demanding.
Jane-Frances Obi, whose husband is Innocent Obi, the officer in charge of the Legal Department at Zone 13 Ukpo, believes the promotion is a reward for years of being patient, understanding, and standing in for them when they are not present.
Meanwhile, Emenike Chinenyenwa, who was decorated with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and presented a vote of appreciation, expressed deep gratitude to the IGP and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission for considering them worthy of being adorned in their new ranks.
ACP Emenike, the officer in charge of Medicals, stated that the elevation comes with increased responsibility and that they will work harder in their new tasks.
CP Aderemi Adeoye praised the current promotion winners in his remarks, noting that two aspects make the police career very interesting and eventful. He stated that one is for promotion and the other is for positions.
CP Adeoye, on the other hand, urged the newly honored officers to develop more empathy, compassion, care, and dedication in the performance of their jobs.
The police chief insisted that newly promoted officers must first recognise that they share the same humanity as others, and as a result, they must treat all people with dignity and protect their fundamental human rights at all times.
CP Aderemi Adeoye stressed that without the enormous roles of spouses, they wouldn’t have been successful in their careers. He therefore congratulated all the promoted and prayed that God gives them good health to enjoy the new ranks and the energy to discharge the responsibilities of their new offices.
- Source: Independent
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