Couples ask for incentives before using commodities – TCI

Social Mobilisation Officers under The Challenge Initiative (TCI) have lamented that in spite of efforts put in place to promote Family Planning (FP) in Kwara, couples request for incentives before they use the commodities.

Supreme News reports that the TCI supports Nigeria in scaling up the positive changes in reproductive health delivered through the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative.

Supreme News also reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined FP as the use of different methods to allow individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births, achieved through the use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility.

But the TCI mobilisation officers in the Magaji Are Primary Healthcare Centre, Okelele in Ilorin East Local Government Area, said the request for incentives

is prevalent in the area, as individuals and couples make such request before they can use FP commodities.

In their different reactions in Ilorin on Friday, Mr Jimoh Olashini, a Social Mobilisation Officer for TCI in the Magaji Are Primary Healthcare Centre, Okelele,

Ilorin East Local Government Area, attributed it to poverty, hunger and the economic situation in the country.

He said “people even ask for food stuff before they can use FP commodities.”

He, however, explained that “there are some clients/couples who are ready to space their children as a result of the economic situation, hence, there is a sharp

increase in the number of people coming to health facilities for FP commodities.

“We carry out field work four times every month, including door-to-door sensitisation to communities in Ilorin.

“There is adequate supply of FP commodities and affordable and sometimes given free. We are committed to our job and will continue to sensitise people.”

On his part, Mr Kawu Abdulwasiu, TCI Social Mobilisation Officer for Primary Healthcare Centres in Oja Gboro and Oke-Sunna area in Ilorin, said some clients complain of the side effects of the commodities.

According to him, the fear of side effects scare some clients from using FP commodities.

He explained that “we try our best to educate people on the need to visit their healthcare facilities, who will advise them on the best FP commodity that best suits them.”

Also, Mrs Christiana Aderogun, a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) in Magaji Are 1 Primary Healthcare Centre in Ilorin, said more women have embraced

FP in the community.

She observed that this is due to the current economic situation in the country.

Aderogun said one of the challenges they face is lack of training and re-training of healthcare workers.

She called on the state government to train the workers on best practices in the use/administration of FP commodities and available options.