The increasing use of traditional methods of family planning despite its associated health risk by women of reproductive age in Akwa Ibom is raising concerns.
There have been reported cases of permanent infertility or destruction of vital organs in the body due to prolonged or abusive use of this method.
Traditional method of family planning, according to Enobong Eshiet, the Family Planning Coordinator in the state, entails the unscientific method women adopt to prevent pregnancy.
This method involves the drinking of herbal concoctions, deployment of withdrawal methods during sex or in extreme situations, engaging in unsafe abortions if unwanted pregnancy occurs.
Giving an overview of Akwa Ibom State Family planning current indices and trends during a media roundtable in Uyo, Ekomobong Oton, the Research Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support Lead of The Challenged Initiative- a global urban reproductive health organisation expressed worry over the rise in the use of traditional method of family planning.
She said from the data made available by the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS, six in every ten women within 15- 49 years are not using any form of family planning, while traditional method users increased by more than 20% from 2018 to 2024.
She further stated that the 2023/2024 survey showed that users of traditional methods stood at 26.1%, while only 17.29% used modern contraceptives.
“Similarly, the users of modern contraceptives during the 2018 survey was 18.3, while between 2023/2024 it came down to 17.2 which indicates a shortfall of 1.5%,” she observed.
However, the decline or shortfall in the use of the modern contraceptive for traditional methods in Akwa Ibom is not unconnected with the stockouts or non availability of FP commodities in various health centres in the state.
The women, it was gathered, embraced the option (traditional method) due to both lack of adequate information on the dangers and reduced availability of these commodities in the centres.
From the Quality Implementation assessment Supplies Checklist of the TCI, the last quarter indicated that 13 out of the 15 assessed facilities across the 8 (Eight) LGAs experienced stockouts.
The most commonly unavailable method was microgynon, followed by IUD, female condom, male condom, Jadelle, implanon, among others.
The few commodities found in some health centres in the state were gotten through the support of some partners such as The Challenged Initiative, (TCI) which may withdraw its support at any given time.
Even the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which played a significant role in funding family planning commodity procurement has severed its funding ties with African countries, Nigeria inclusive, thereby bringing to the front burner the need for State governors to take up funding of family planning commodities in their states.
Meanwhile, 11 states of the federation have implemented the State Funded Procurement Guidelines on family planning in 2024 to align with Nigeria’s FP2030 commitments.
The States that have implemented the guidelines by funding FP procurements include: Delta supported with N30 million, Osun- N30 million, Edo -N27 million, Rivers- N40 million, Adamawa – N22 million, Ondo- N20 million.
Others include: Kaduna – N50 million, Gombe- N35 million, Lagos- N25 million, Sokoto N20 million, Ogun -N10 million.
From the foregoing, Akwa Ibom, an oil producing state has not contributed to the national pool for the procurement of FP commodities and neither has it released money directly for the procurement of commodities and consumables.
It was gathered that there were approvals for procurement of FP commodities in the Akwa Ibom State budget over the years but there was no release.
Speaking at an event, the FP Coordinator in the State, Enobong Eshiet said: “we had intentionally proposed a budget last year, about N100 million but by the time the approved budget was out, I was told that N10 million was approved for family planning services over the years, but no release.
“Recently in 2022, the federal ministry of health with support from UNFPA came to Akwa Ibom and they disseminated guidelines for state procurement of family planning commodities and consumables and support for distribution.
“Akwa Ibom adopted that document and we have been presenting the document and forecasting the quantification of FP commodities for 2023 and 2025. That document was submitted to the then Commissioner, Ministry of health, till that period elapsed we didn’t have any release for procurement.
“Most states have contributed to the national basket fund or the state procure themselves by employing the private sector organisation to help do the procurement.
“In the South South zone, three states have contributed and Akwa Ibom state is not part of it. I feel the governor is not yet aware of this, we are trying to see how to reach out to him to ensure that he buys in.”
Akwa Ibom govt makes a u-turn, promises more attention to Family planning
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State government through the ministry of health has promised to live up to expectation by giving adequate attention to procurement of FP commodities and services.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel who gave the assurance during an advocacy visit by Ibom Advocacy Core Group on Friday stated that funds for the State’s contributions into the National Basket Fund for family planning would be first captured in the budget.
Emmanuel expressed optimism that the Governor, being a man that prioritizes health, would ensure release of the approved funds in the budget, even as he noted that the ministry will play a key role to ensure a follow-up.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ibom Advocacy Core Group, Dr. Mandu Ekpenyong requested the Akwa Ibom State government to join other states of the Federation in the funding of procurement of family planning commodities through the National Basket Fund for family planning, and procure consumables needed to administer the commodities.
While commending The Challenge Initiative (TCI) for the significant family planning support provided to the State across 10 local government areas, she called on the State Government to show more interest in owning the work done by TCI, especially as the partner may soon leave the State.
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