The Kwara State Government has pledged to enhance male participation in family planning (FP) to improve population control and reproductive health outcomes.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam made the announcement during the Kwara State Bi-Annual Stakeholders Coordination Meeting in Ilorin, jointly organised by the Society for Family Health (SFH) and the state government.
Dr. El-Imam noted that Nigeria’s patrilineal society often places men as heads of households and primary decision-makers. She stressed the importance of involving men in FP to address socio-cultural misconceptions and foster educated, culturally sensitive interventions.
“We are recording progress in the uptake of FP commodities across all 16 Local Government Areas. Family planning has led to fewer maternal deaths, reduced abortions, happier families, and lower poverty levels,” she said.
Emphasising the pivotal role of men, Dr. El-Imam added: “By engaging the male population, we can dismantle misconceptions through culturally sensitive education and interventions.”
The Managing Director of SFH, Dr. Omokhudo Idogho represented by Mr. Umar Adamu, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, praised the Kwara Government’s strides in maternal and child healthcare.
Idogho reiterated SFH’s commitment to equipping Nigerians with knowledge and tools for healthier lives, focusing on self-care solutions and resilient health systems.
“Our goal is to empower women in Kwara to choose and sustain healthy child spacing methods, including self-injection to prevent unintended pregnancies,” he said.
