Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Community Awareness and Development Initiative, CADI, supported by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Tuesday trained 84 community groups in Sokoto State on family planning campaign.
Targeted persons for the training comprised traditional and religious leaders, Wards Development Committee, WDC, members, personnel of primary healthcare centres and monitoring and evaluation officers.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, CADI, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi said the participants were engaged on capacity building exercise to strengthen their active service on family planning and to become champions.
He said the champions were drawn from Sabon Birnin, Isa, Goronyo, Raba, Binji, Silame, Kware, Yabo, Shagari, Dange Shuni, Kebbe and Sokoto South Local Government Areas.
He noted the importance of family planning on enhancing population growth, demographic planning, as well as improved socio-economic activities of individual families, groups and the nation at large.
Umar-Jabbi cautioned citizens against patronising quacks and traditional healers on child spacing services, stressing that modern services are available at all levels.
In his presentation, a former Director at the National Population Commission, NPC, Alhaji Malami Marafa-Gagi dwelled on misconceptions, cultural beliefs and practices affecting family planning services in the society.
Marafa-Gagi traced population statistics from the 1991 census up till date with trends of population growth, literacy and healthcare services in percentages across Sokoto State, Northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.
He led the discussions on family settings historical backgrounds, availability of farmlands, occupations and the present challenges affecting populations.
In his remarks, the Chief Imam of Yabo Local Government, Sheikh Lema Yabo stressed that religion allows couples to discuss child spacing and other issues relevant to family settings and capability to bear children.
Yabo said family planning is part of religious provisions with intended and targeted objectives of controlling birth,
He enjoined scholars to educate people on the best way to access family planning and obtain clarity on misconceptions.
The District Head of Kilgori, Dr Jabbi Kilgori urged community groups to support family planning champions, aimed at promoting proper and productive population.
Kilgori stressed that family planning services enhance health, wellness, educational status and economic well-being of families, that have direct impact on society’s development.
Also speaking, the Director of Mobilisation, Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, SSPHCDA, Alhaji Dahiru Kamaru said the state government had rehabilitated healthcare facilities, ambulances, provided ultrasound machines and motorcycles to healthcare workers.
Kamaru added that government had also engaged specialists from teaching hospitals to enhance healthcare services.
On his part, the State Chairman of Wards Development Committee, Dr Bala Gadanga urged the authorities to include its members in all healthcare activities, saying it would reduce cases of misappropriation, diversion and other fraudulent practices with healthcare provisions.
