By Chioma Umeha
The Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative
2 (N
Under the programme, NURHI would commence and
complete renovation of some selected primary health centres (PHC) or hospitals,
within 72 hours.
Dr Omosanjuwa Edun, NURHI-2 Lagos team leader,
told newsmen in Lagos the programme was aimed at increasing access to health
care, especially in the area of reproductive health and family planning.
Edun said the project would also help increase the
contraceptive prevalence rate among women and men of reproductive age from the
current national level of 15 per cent to 36 per cent.
“Our selection of local governments and PHCs is
based on the local government area with the highest population, as well as,
highest population of women of reproductive age.
“We believe those are the people who should be
priority on our list and as such, need our interventions faster.
“We urge Nigerians to access family planning
methods as it has many benefits; research has shown that family planning saves
lives and reduces maternal deaths by up to 40 per cent.
“So, if 10 women were to die as a result of
pregnancy, FP can save three to four of those women,’’ Edun said.
Also, Mr Adewale Haastrup, the programme’s
Advocacy and Demand Generation Manager, said that the renovation projects were
being done in phases.
“During the last quarter of 2016, we renovated and
inaugurated 18 PHCs and hospitals, including the Anikulapo PHC in Mushin, Ketu
Alapere PHC in Kosofe, Sango PHC in Agege and Tolu PHC in Ajeromi Ifelodun.
“For the early part of this year, we will take up the
Shomolu General Hospital, Orile Agege General Hospital, Ibafon PHC in Ajegunle
, Itire Ijesha PHC, Lakowe PHC, among others.
“We have even finished and inaugurated three of
them; today, work has begun on the Ibafon PHC, Ajeromi General Hospital and Layeni
PHC in Ajeromi LGA due for inauguration on Monday.
“We are taking up these facilities phase by phase;
we will be working during the weekends, so that the sets will be ready for
inauguration by the following Monday,’’ he said.
He said: “NURHI wants to contribute to ensure that
the facilities are conducive enough for people to access health care,
especially in the area of reproductive health and family planning
“The country’s maternal mortality indices is high
and family planning is one of the most effective ways to prevent maternal,
infant and child mortality,’’ Haastrup said.
Mrs Charity Ibeawuchi, a family planning expert
with NURHI, said family planning alone could reduce maternal deaths by more
than 33 per cent.
“It helps prevent unwanted pregnancies and deaths
associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
“Family planning reduces maternal mortality by
reducing the number of unintended pregnancies, the number of abortions and the
proportion of high risk births.
“According to the 2014 National Family Planning
Blueprint, when the family planning needs of women are met, Nigeria can prevent
more than a third of her total maternal deaths per year.
“This will save about 140,000 to 150,000 lives per
year,’’ Ibeawuchi said.
She said: “Women who become pregnant when very
young or very old are at a higher risk of a pregnancy-related death.
“Also, women who become pregnant soon after their
last birth or who have many children have an increased danger of maternal
death.
“When a woman becomes pregnant before the age 18, she
is more likely than an older woman to develop hypertension, anaemia and
prolonged or obstructed labour, which can result to death.
“Consequently, fewer deaths will occur among
pregnant women if more couples practised family planning,’’ she said.
NURHI II is a five-year project which is funded by
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
It aims to eliminate supply and demand barriers to
contraceptive use and make family planning a social norm in Nigeria.
