The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) has trained 20 healthcare providers across Niger State on postpartum family planning (PPFP) methods to help new mothers access contraceptive services immediately after childbirth.
Postpartum family planning allows women to receive methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) within 10 minutes of placenta delivery or within 48 hours after birth.
If this window is missed, the woman can only receive the method four weeks later.
“This is about getting women before they leave the labour ward,” said Dorcas Abu, the State Family Planning Coordinator. “Many don’t return for family planning after delivery, and the next time we see them is when they are pregnant again.”
PPFN’s Gender and Youth Focal Officer, Halima Yahaya, said the training equips providers with extra skills to serve women better noting that advocacy has boosted acceptance rates.
“We want women to have choices, space their children, and maintain good health,” she said.
The training which covers three LGAs,Chanchaga, Paiko, and Bosso and, according to PPFN’s North Central Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Madu Solomon, is expected to reduce maternal and infant deaths.
Madu added that economic realities are pushing more families to embrace family planning.
However, shortages of contraceptive commodities remain a major challenge. The State family planning Coordinator said the federal government’s new policy now allows states to buy their own supplies to fill gaps from the national level. “If we have trained providers but no commodities, our efforts will be wasted,” she warned.
PPFN also disclosed plans to monitor the success of the programme and possibly expand it to more facilities by the end of the year.
