Over 129,000 young brides in Nasarawa using contraceptives
A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Society for Family Health, has announced that no fewer than 129,285 married-adolescent girls in Nasarawa State have adopted the use of contraceptives, championed by its Adolescents 360 Project which is aimed at improving their Sexual and Reproductive Health.
The SFH also commended the state’s ministry of health for working hard towards attaining the current contraceptive prevalence rate of 22.3 per cent.
The Health Governance and Public Policy Specialist of the SFH, Kenneth Okoineme, made the disclosure in the Keffi Local Government Area of the state on Saturday at the close of a two-days residential transition policy dialogue meeting organised by the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health.
The programme which was organised in collaboration with the Society for Family Health for its A360 Project in the state, had the theme, “The future of Adolescent and Youths Sexual Reproductive Health and Development in Nasarawa.”
Speaking at the event, Okoineme noted that the A360 Project focuses on increasing adolescent girls’ access to and demand for modern contraception in developing countries, including Nigeria.
He explained that in the last four years in Nasarawa State, the project which is in its conclusive stage, tagged “Matasan Matan Arewa”, had focused on married adolescent girls between the ages of 15 to 19 years.
While praising the project’s impact in the state, Okoineme added that the NGO had helped to build the programme into the health system of the state so that even after the expiration of the project, it would still be sustainable.
