The need to intensify campaign on Family Planning has been stressed to achieve the set goals.
Members of Media Action for Family Planning Committee, Anambra State, made the assertion during a one-day review meeting held in Awka, to appraise previous activities and programmes, as well as health related challenges associated with family planning in the state.
This aimed at strengthening the ready-built capacity of government information officers, journalists from print and electronic media as well as social media influencers (bloggers), to create awareness and ensure that all women of reproductive age have access to family planning.
Speaking, The Challenge Initiative (TCI) representative, Mrs. Kachi Ewe, informed that participants were expected to discuss challenges and observations made at Family Planning Units of Primary Health Centres (PHC) earlier visited..
She further intimated that participants should develop work plans that will help promote subsequent advocacy for family planning in the state.
In her remarks, Anambra State Media Focal Person for DEVCOMS, Franca Madike, urged the participants to list what government and other stakeholders should do to achieve the set objectives.
In their submissions, the media group members observed that response to accessing family planning services dropped due to cultural inhibitions, religious beliefs, husbands or family members interference, lack of proper awareness on side effects among others.
They, therefore, put forward some recommendations which include more advocacy visits to community leaders, market unions, Churches, men and women groups as well as relevant government agencies.
They further advocated more media publicity in form of announcement, media chats, drama and jingles to bring the message on the importance of family planning to the door step of everyone.
According to them, Family Planning service providers should also be properly trained and closely supervised for efficient services.
