Posted on: Mon 19-04-2021

Rather than shying away from acts that would promote the practice of family planning in Taraba state and the country at large, practicing journalists have been urged to speak in favour of contraceptives.

The Technical Support Lead -Service Delivery Officer of The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in the state, Dr. Nshe Muknaan David, who at the weekend made the call during the maiden meeting of the State Family Planning Advocacy group, urged them not to "be afraid of talking about contraceptives ." 

Stressing that "sexual behaviours is more than just contraceptive issues" journalists, as suggested by him, can tread extra legitimate miles to dispel the myths and misinformation surrounding the use of contraceptives and other FP methods .

Adding that "as media advocates, we should not be afraid of talking about contraceptives" getting involved in health publicity, he believed would go a long way to motivate families spread across rural communities to embrace FP.

David who also stressed the importance of FP to the economic growth of every country,  said TCI would not ceased from advocating for life planning for the youths, hence the need for the advocacy group whom our correspondent observed were drawn from media organizations spread across the state to join forces with TCI and other implementers to promote FP services. 

TCI,  whom our correspondent  noticed to be the major implementers of FP services in the state , has not only coopted media practitioners in its activities in order the services to the door posts of the communities,  but had as well involved religious, traditional leadership,  as well as health educators spread across the councils. 

Reiterating the determinations of the advocacy group  to help halting barriers militating against the services,  the chairman of the group,  Lynn Adda,  said the group would not go to bed pending when FP services become a household name in the state. 

The group who said they are aware  that family planning goes a long way to reduce infant mortality,  prevent unintended pregnancies among others, passionately urged the state government to fashion out measures that would encourage couples to come out en-mass to embrace the services. 

Other members of the group who went ahead to shared the experienced derived from their just concluded facilities tour to some for centers,  believed that government can as well play vital roles in motivating the people to come out and embrace the services. 

In doing this, they suggested for the immediate construction or rehabilitation of feeder roads linking in and out of the rural communities spread across the state. 

END

By Charles Akpeji.

---

---