Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo has expressed the need to confront beliefs and practices that are inimical to the acceptance of family planning in the society.
Dr. Banigo stated this while playing host to the Rivers State Family Planning Advocacy Working Group and the Rivers State Media for Health and Family Planning at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 8th November 2021.
According to the Deputy Governor, “we need to continue to confront the norms that are stiff and stands as strong holds against the acceptance of family planning methods in our Communities.
They are coming down gradually but there is still a need to do more advocacy at the community level”.
Dr. Banigo who insisted that population balance was key to socio-economic and political development said “family planning is so important because, if our GDP is struggling and our population is increasing we can never get it right, unemployment will increase, hunger will increase in the land every other social services will be inadequate, education, health, nothing will be balanced”.
Dr. Banigo, said under the watch of Governor Wike, the present Administration has continued to make huge investments to turn around the health sector, noting that at inception the routine immunization coverage in the state, which was low, has witnessed a significant improvement.
The Deputy Governor, who commended the Advocacy Working Group for their concerted efforts to promote family planning in the society, said “we need such networks so badly to put the right advocacy and press the necessary pedals to make certain things move, I am happy that you have worked to bring budgetary lines for family planning at the National, State and Local Government Levels”.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Family Planning Advocacy Working Group, Prof. Cosmos Eyindah, said the Rivers State Family Planning Advocacy Working Group, has a multi-sectorial and multi representation of stakeholders, from the Ministry of Health, professional health associations, the academia, CSOs , religious organizations, the media, development partners, multilateral agencies and individual family planning ambassadors to serve as a co-ordinating platform for advocacy on issues affecting family planning.
Prof Eyindah who said they were at the Government House to provide updates to the Deputy Governor on the progress so far made by the advocacy-working group commended the Deputy Governor for her passion to promote maternal and child health as a worthy National and State Family Planning Champion.
