By Elizabeth Azeez
In Commemoration of the World Contraceptive day, The Challenge Initiative,TCI, Lagos State Ministry of Health, and The Primary Health Care Board held a Campaign in Surulere LGA, Kekere Ekun to celebrate the date.
This campaign was to raise awareness about the importance of Contraceptive, dispel myths and Misconceptions, also provide the family planning commodities (contraceptives) to people of the community.
The campaign started in the early hours of the day, with Health practitioner, community workers and health Educators singing to draw the attention of the people while educating them.
Mrs Elizabeth Ayodele, the Health Education Officer, Coker Aguda LCDA, noted that the outcome of this year campaign is very impressive and encouraging compared to previous years. ” We have been able to sensitize the community ahead of the campaign and they have shown Intrest right from the get – go. The sensitization helped push the crowd out. She said.
“The advocacy of family planning has improved the sociocultural beliefs of the community”, Ayodele further reiterated.
As at 11am, over 40 women had been administered implants, several number of condoms has been shared to the people of the community.
The health practitioners took time to run ask for the clients and educate them on the side effects of each commodities available, after which series of questions were asked, and pregnancy test was then carried out . With this much information, the women decided for themselves which method to take on.
One of the health practitioners also informed our respondent that every contraceptive was available and a number of people already took on the IUD.
Mr Kayode Azeez, the Health Educator officer, Kekere Ekun, Surulere LGA spoke on the challenges faced during the campaign as to access to the service provided.
“The major challenge we have experienced is based off religious beliefs and societal factors” The health educator said
“Some people do not want to assess these service publicly, and the young ones are not coming because they don’t want to be seen or perceived as wayward in the community.
Mrs Elizabeth spoke on how they have tried to address the challenge of perceived stigmatization.
“We have provided ‘Go cards’ to people who are shy, once we get back to the facility, we know they are from the campaign but didn’t access the service based on the reasons they give” Elizabeth Ayodele said.
Men also showed Intrest in the campaign, hanging around to get condoms and inquiry for their wives.
