The Society for Family Health (SFH) has said that no fewer than 4,213 unsafe abortions were averted in Nasarawa State between 2021 and 2023 through the use of modern contraceptives.
The Senior Learning Advisor of the organisation, Dr Ibitoye Segun, disclosed this on Wednesday at a one-day mid-project dissemination meeting in Lafia.
The meeting was organised by the state Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care Development Agency, in collaboration with SFH, focusing on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) programming in the state.
Segun said that the contraceptives were used under A360 Amplify Project, being implemented in the state.
He further said that 54 maternal deaths and 228 child deaths were also averted through the intervention within the period across the state.
He said that the Matasa Matan Arewa programme, under the A360 project, was designed to provide an enabling environment for married adolescent girls, aged 15 to 19, and to have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.
He said that the projects were being implemented in 187 government and 19 A360 support facilities across the state.
The Managing Director, SFH, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, said the meeting served as a platform to share learnings, achievements, successes and insights from the A360 Amplify.
Idogho, represented by the Project Director, Paediatrics and Adolescent Programme of SFH, Mrs Aisha Dadi, said that A360 was a five-year project with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Children Investment Fund Foundation.
He said that the project had successfully overcome barriers to access and use of modern contraceptives by married adolescent girls, aged 15 to 19.
This, he said, led to an increase in modern contraceptive prevalence rate and improved sexual reproductive health among adolescents in the state, known as Matasan Matan Arewa.
Idogho said that the A360 Amplify Project was not only aimed at promoting the use of modern contraceptives among married adolescent girls but to empower them through trainings.
He said that the trainings were on health knowledge, goal setting, financial literacy and vocational skill development.
“This holistic approach enhances their human capital and enables them to achieve self-sufficiency.
“Through the Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement strategy, the project fosters inclusive partnerships, involving adolescents, youths and adults, with the goal of improving health outcomes and human capital development.
“It will help in reducing unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections and enhancing vocational skills and agency.
Idogho said that the A360 Amplify had made significant impact in the lives of adolescent girls as a result of its collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and NSPHCDA.
In a remark, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gomna, lauded SFH and other partners for their intervention and impact on the adolescents in the state.
Gomna, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Damian Ali, said the effort to properly guide and mentor adolescents on their sexual reproductive health and general well-being was a way to guarantee their future.
The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the State Government to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far under the A360 project.
Also, the Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA), Dr Simon Istifanus, sought the collaboration of SFH to incorporate its Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health services into the state’s health insurance scheme to ensure universal coverage.
The Director, Public Health, Dr Ibrahim Adamu, applauded SFH for being the only international partner implementing five projects concurrently in the state.
Adamu gave assurance that the State Government was desirous to attract more interventions that would better the lot of the people.
