Posted on: Fri 27-11-2020

The present economic situations of the country which have not only led to hike in food items and other valuables but also increased in school fees,  medical bills and other consumables, have no doubt begins to compel couples who have in the past believed that family planning is a taboo to now  begin to take advantage of  accessing the facilities spreads across Taraba state. 

Our correspondent who recently took tours of some of the  facilities  in the state, observed that the number of women now visiting the facilities spread  across the state with the support of their spouses have risen to over 200,000 

Unlike in the past where the people shy away from the services due to cultural beliefs,  as well as the myths and misconceptions surrounding the exercise,  the reverse as noticed by The Guardian,  now seems to be the case following the current economic reality that is fast telling negatively on the people.

Citing how she and her husband finally agreed to accept the services after giving birth to eight children, 36 years old Aishatu Sani, said their inability to meet up with their economic responsibilities to their children,  left them with the option of treading extra legitimate miles to embrace family Planning. 

Aisha who our correspondent observed was in one of the facilities to access the service, said "after giving birth to our number eight child ,  life, as made known  by her, became cumbersome for us to the extent that we begin to leave from hands to mouths."

Not comfortable with the situation,  she said she was compelled to engage her husband on a round table dialogue on how to control their births, the situation which according to her  was welcomed by her  husband,  Mallam Sani. 

Enumerating the benefits her and her husband have being deriving from the exercise,  she said "if not for this move, I would have by now gave birth to nine or ten children which of course we won't be able to cater for."

Aishatu who was of the view that the exercise have not only helped her to regained her health,  said it is as well helping her and her husband to channel their little resources towards the training of their children. 

 Now calling on couples and intended couple to endeavor to  plan and space their births, she wondered what life would have been for her family if she had decided to go ahead giving births to young ones.

"The truth is that by now we would have given birth to more than eight children if we have refused to access these free services that are being given to us by our state government and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) whom we were told have being assisting not only our government but also women and children" she said. 

Now at the forefront disseminating the gospels of family Planning to fellow women in her community,  dispelling the myths and misconceptions weighing down the exercise,  she said " had I have known this earlier,  we would have not found ourselves in this economic predicaments we are passing through in my  family now."

The family planning service provider in one of the facilities visited,  Zakaitu  Audu,  agreed that the level of persons now patronizing family planning in her facility have being on the increase stating that " I believe that our present economic situations is one of the numerous factors that have led to the increase. 

While soliciting for more commodities especially the  implants , some clients who find it difficult to visit the facilities due to fear or cultural beliefs,  she said " often come to me secretly for counseling. "

By Charles Akpeji 

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