More than 65,000 young women accessed contraceptives in Delta in the last six months.
The Permanent Secretary, Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Jude Winful-Orieke, disclosed this in Asaba on Monday at an event to mark the 2022 World Contraception Day.
“Between January and June 2022, 65,737 people of reproductive age accessed contraceptives in Delta.
“Out of this number, 36,237 were new acceptors, while 29,500 persons came for revisits,’’ he said.
The WHO set aside September 26 of every year the World Contraception Day to improve awareness of all contraceptive methods available.
It is to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health.
Dr. Winful-Orieke said the Day had earlier been established by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2007 and adopted by governments of nations that of Nigeria as an annual event.
He stressed that access to contraceptives would reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, and stave off HIV and AIDs and other sexually transmitted in young women.
He said the 2022 Day centered on improving awareness of the importance of contraceptive use by people of reproductive age.
“The goal is that every pregnancy is intentional, desirable, and safe. Contraception allows people of reproductive age to plan childbearing
“It helps in the prevention of unplanned pregnancies among teenage girls and helps girls to stay in school, work, and gain social and economic empowerment.
“It ensures sustainable progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases,’’ he said.
The permanent secretary said that marking the day helped in the promotion of informed decision-making by women and girls about their sexual and reproductive health.
“It is worthy of note to emphasize that women and girls deserve access to quality and accurate information on safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable contraception of choice.
“Delta government is committed to a further reduction of its maternal mortality ratio from 576 per 100,000 live births in the year 2022 to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030,’’ he said.
Winful-Orieke was represented by the Director, of Community Health Services, Dr. Paul Yinkore.
