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Health

Lockdown hinders access to FP information, services – Expert

Lockdown hinders access to FP information, services – Expert

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Asaba, April 24, 2020 (NAN) Prof. Josiah Mutihir, a Family Planning expert, says the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted access to family planning information and services worldwide.

Mutihir spoke as Guest Speaker on a Zoom Meeting on “Why Access to Contraception is Critical in Covid-19 Response” , organised by the Development Communications Network (DevComs) on Friday in Asaba.

According to him,  due to the COVID-19 pandemic, families are compelled to stay home, day and night, for periods of between one to 12 weeks depending on the country or state, hence facilitating intimacy.

He noted that as at April 22 over 182,000 deaths  from COVID-19 have been reported globally and that health systems have concentrated on the curbing the spread of the virus.

He said though the pandemic has had and still has enormous effects on all economies worldwide, individuals, families, communities have been hit by poor resources to meet basic needs including feeding.

“This lockdown has brought the husband and wife or spouses face to face for long periods. Idleness has set in and increased sexual desires and activity result.

“Where the woman is not protected, unwanted pregnancy is likely the outcome in most instances where the woman is still in the reproductive age and is not on any method of contraception,” he said.

He, however, observed that there were other important health issues with far reaching consequences that cannot be ignored, notably these include family planning and reproductive health.

According to him, the need for family planning does not disappear during a pandemic and therefore should not be ignored or neglected.

“Already, there has been the disruption of supply chains of contraceptive commodities, closure of health clinics providing FP information, counselling and public fear about visiting health facilities at this time of lockdown.

“The gains in uptake of modern FP methods in the country over the years is likely to be lost during the pandemic with serious short, medium and long-term consequences.

“Family planning is a life-saving intervention mitigating increased morbidity and mortality resulting from unintended pregnancies.

“It is estimated that a 10 per cent proportional decline in the use of contraceptive methods, caused by reduced access worldwide, will result in additional 49 million women with unmet need for FP, and 15 million unintended pregnancies within a year”.

Mutihir, therefore, recommended that adequate and clear information for the public on family planning methods, using telehealth, particularly the natural and other methods for practice at a time of dire need when the other methods cannot be accessed.

He said that there should be public enlightenment to sensitise the people on availability of contraceptive methods in the pharmacies, which are open during the lockdown.

“Relevant authorities should put accessing family planning service as essential service and should be included on the exemption list for restricted movements.

“Reproductive Health Department of Federal Ministry of Health should come up with strategies to provide commodities using the last-mile distribution network to get as far as possible to the grassroots at this time

“There should be free commodities in addition to free consumables at this time, to make unfettered access to all clients including Private Clinics, Not-for Profit Health Facilities, Private Pharmacies and others.

“Also, strategies or ways of reaching out to the sexually active persons in particular, with various contraceptive methods should be devised,’’ he said.

The FP expert said that the use of family planning Apps where nothing else is available to be used in combination with the condoms, spermicides and others should be encouraged.

“Family planning clinics should be re-opened and be treated as essential service, and clients seeking FP be allowed unfettered access and supported,’’ Mutihir said. (NAN)
IO/VIV/AFA
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Editing by Vivian Ihechu

 

 

Health

COVID-19: 3 suspected cases in Delta test negative

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Results

Asaba, April 1, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Wednesday in Asaba declared the state free from COVID-19 pandemic as three suspected cases tested negative.

The governor, who received the test results of the three suspected cases from the Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo, declared that the results were negative.

“A little while ago, I received the results of three patients in Delta, who exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 from the medical team at Irrua Specialist Training Hospital in Edo.

“I am pleased to report that the results came back negative.

“With the result of the three samples returning negative, Delta is yet to record any case of the COVID-19 since its outbreak in the country,’’ Okowa said.

He, however, assured that in spite of the results, the government would remain on high alert and will continue to take all the necessary precautions to keep the people safe.

“I ask all the families and communities, across our great state, to continue to work with us by adhering to the measures that we have put in place.

“I also ask that you all continue to remain calm and disregard any fake news.

“On our part, we will continue to update you on key developments through our official channels.

“We will get through this together,’’ the governor said.

NAN reports that Okowa had in a broadcast to update the people on COVID-19 on Tuesday, said that the state was expecting results of three patients, who reportedly exhibited symptoms of the virus.

He said his administration would continue to be on red alert to forestall any outbreak of the disease in the state.

The governor urged the people to continue to adhere to measures put in place by the government to check the spread of the virus. (NAN)
IO/AIB/MST
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

Bayelsa: Okowa congratulates PDP over Supreme Court ruling

Bayelsa: Okowa congratulates PDP over Supreme Court ruling

Bayelsa
By Ifeanyi Olannye

Asaba, Feb. 13, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling sacking Bayelsa governor-elect, Mr David Lyon and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo.

The governor’s congratulatory message was conveyed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba.

Okowa described the ruling as a welcomed development for the PDP and its candidates in the governorship race, Sen. Douye Diri and Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor.

He noted that the Court ruled that Degi-Eremienyo presented forged educational certificates, including those of primary, secondary and tertiary schools, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said the Court also held that the Form CF 001 Degi-Eremieoyo submitted to INEC for the purpose of the Nov. 16, 2019 governorship election in the state, contained false information of fundamental nature.

Okowa said that the apex court held that since Degi-Eremieoyo shared a joint ticket with the governor-elect, his disqualification invalidated their nomination by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor said that his confidence in the Judiciary had been rekindled by the didactic ruling of the apex court.

He urged PDP and the governor-elect to take steps to reconcile all stakeholders in Bayelsa in order to strengthen the party for future elections.

“The news of the Supreme Court ruling on the Bayelsa governorship election came to me with joy.

“This is because we have been writhing in pain on the loss of Bayelsa to the APC in the last governorship election in the state.

“We are happy because the Supreme Court has once again restored the confidence of the people in the judiciary.

“This victory is a clarion call on the party and the governor-elect to take steps to reconcile all aggrieved party members who defected or worked against the party in the Nov. 16, 2019 Governorship Election in the state.

“This is very important, because there is need to rebuild the confidence of the people in our party, going forward,’’ Okowa said.

The governor added, “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate our great party, the PDP, on the victory at the Supreme Court.

“It is my prayer that God will usher in a new lease of life for Bayelsans as a new administration takes over in the state.

“I also congratulate my brother governor, Chief Seriake Dickson, for a successful tenure in office”.(NAN)

IO/AMM/AFA
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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Felix Ajide

 

General news

Valentine’s Day: Clergy urges youth to shun sexual immorality

Valentine

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Asaba, Feb. 13, 2020 (NAN) Rev. Omatshola Williams, the former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Delta state has called on youths to avoid pre-parital sex as the world marks St. Valentine’s day.

Williams, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Asaba, said  that the occasion of St.Valentine’s Day, accepted by people and celebrated worldwide on Feb. 14 as lovers day, should not be turned into occasion for promoting and  celebrating sexual immorality.

She stressed the need for continuous sex education in homes and schools to engender morality in children.

Williams said that the celebration should be marked with true show of love and sharing and not occasion for carnality.

“Couples should share love, and be mindful of their family size as planning ones family is very important; every married couple has the right to plan for the family size they want.

“It is better to plan for the number of children that you can manage and care for than raise children that cannot be cared for.

“Meanwhile, with what we see in the young people and youths today, there is an urgent need for sex education to be taught in every home and institutions.

“We must teach our children the implication and cost of having canal knowledge of themselves until they get married.

“The celebration of Valentine should be used to show natural affection. We advocate sex education in our homes and institutions for proper upbringing of our children,” she added.

Also, Miss Esther Agaldo, a National Youth Corp Service member, serving in Delta said that Valentine’s day depicts a period of sharing, particularly with the less privileged and putting  smiles on someone’s face.

“Over the years, I spent my time with my family during the Valentine and prepare special meal for the family.

“Now, I am in Delta, I will cook special meal and celebrate with my colleagues and later if possible hang out with them in the evening on Friday.

“To me, Valentine is not an occasion to mess up with the opposite sex.

“Sex education is for every home and parents to have a close relationship with their children to build confidence in them to become responsible adults.

“There is no doubt that some youths indulge in some immorality during Valentine’s but corps  must apply restraint and as adults, corpers are responsible for their actions,’’ she said.

On his part, Mr David Okpogadie a journalist, said that Valentine’s day was set aside in commemoration of the good deed of Saint Valentine who lived his life for others.

“So, those who celebrate it should see it as an opportunity to emulate St. Valentine by doing good to others and helping the helpless, giving to the needy and showing love generally as the true essence of Valentine Day.

“It is true that immorality has crept into Valentine’s Day celebration out of ignorance being spread by mischievous persons.

“My advice to the youths is total abstinence from immorality and any act capable of derailing their future and they should know that Valentine’s day is not meant for sexual immorality but service to humanity.” (NAN)
IO/OYE/IU
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole and Isaac Ukpoju