Some satisfied users of family planning in Lagos State have said the method comes as a big relief to managing one’s family in Nigeria’s current economy.

The users expressed their satisfaction during a field trip evaluation of FP services in Lagos.

The event was part of activities of a capacity building training and editorial planning workshop on family planning for media practitioners.

The training was organised by the Development Communication Network  with support from The Challenge Initiative.

The objective of the training is to sensitise journalists with the TCI FP Intensification Phase plan and also increase media visibility on FP reportage.

According to the World Health Organisation, family planning is defined as “the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births.

This can be achieved through the use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility.

A family planning satisfied user and mother of three, Grace Aniofiok, said that she had been using an FP method since 2023 and was satisfied.

Mrs Aniofiok said that when she started using the FP method, she was on the implant method but had to switch to the injectable method when she experienced some mild discomfort.

According to her, ever since, she has been okay and advises other women to use any FP method suitable for their bodies, stressing that it will help families adequately plan for and space the number of children they can comfortably cater for.

Another user and mother of four, Comfort Aghata, said that the current economic situation of Nigeria made her to embrace FP.

Mrs Aghata said that she started using FP three years ago and had been managing her family within the family’s financial means.

She advised other women to embrace FP because it was a life-saver in managing one’s family.

According to her, she has healed well from her last child delivery, and now has time to engage in some economic activities to support her family.

Another user and mother of two, Emem Idada, corroborated Aniofiok and Aghata’s views, saying that FP was the only thing that made peace to be in her family now.

Mrs Idada said that most men would always want to have sex with their partners without recourse to the likely resultant pregnancies, whereas women would always be conscious of that and the implications of any “unplanned” addition to the family.

These different views between the man and the woman always caused problems, and the only way to strike a balance was FP, Mrs Idada said.

The Officer in-Charge of FP services, Akerele Primary Health Centre, Ajoke Daramola, said that a reasonable number of users had keyed into the FP programme.

According to her, it is not just married couples, but also young adults who are not married but sexually active.

She said that the facility was opened to anyone who wanted FP services, noting that their services were accessible to all.

Speaking, Programme Director, DEVCOMS, Akin Jimoh, said that embracing FP had many benefits to it.

According to Mr Jimoh, things are tough in the country and one cannot compare a family of four with a family of nine because the quality of life will be different.

He said that challenges including population growth, education system and economy among others needed to be addressed.

He said FP encompassed different methods that applied to different individuals depending on their body make-up.

However, he advised that any challenges associated with an FP method should be reported to an FP provider or a doctor, for evaluation and management.

Mr Jimoh also noted that there are different determinants in FP which couples could adopt for effective family size.

Investing in FP is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

FP is a development essential that can accelerate achievement across the five SDG themes of people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.

Specifically, SDG 3.7 supports universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including family planning, ensuring access for all people to their preferred contraceptive methods.

Also, SDG 5.6 targets universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

(NAN)