NDUBUEZE NAOMI
Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) is partnering with Lagos Advocacy Working Group (LAWG) and religious leaders to take Family Planning to the grassroots in Lagos state.
Wale Haastrup, senior programme officer, Advocacy, NURHI, Lagos State said on Tuesday at a stakeholder’s meeting with religious leaders that the role of religious leaders is very significant in taking Family Planning advocacy to the grassroots.
“As an Imam or a Pastor you can talk to people in your communities or congregation about the importance of Family Planning. Considering the economic situation, Family Planning has become very important for child spacing to ensure couples live quality lives,” he said.
In her welcome address, Veronica Iwayemi of Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board said the contributions of religious leaders to Family Planning advocacy in Lagos state cannot be understated.
“There are so many things we can’t do alone as a board,” she explained. “That is why we have to involve stakeholders. Our objective is to fashion out a way to come up with a strategic way to discuss Family Planning in our circles.”
Pastor Chibuike Amaechi who is a member of LAWG explained religious leaders need to tell their churches about Family Planning and the importance of sexual hygiene. According to him, it is important to catch them young, that is, telling adolescents about sexually transmitted diseases. “For religious leaders to be able to take this advocacy to the grassroots, they need basic information on all aspect Family Planning. God wants us to be in sound health and we are the ones as religious leaders to tell our followers.”
In her contribution, Dr Ajoke Ashiru, the President of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Lagos chapter said religious leaders must be equal to the task because they play an important role in policy making at the local government level, hence telling the people about Family Planning should not be a difficult task.
“They can talk to people during their Sunday and Friday sermon. In Islam, we call Family Planning Child birth spacing. What it means is that it allows a woman recover from the previous pregnancy and delivery. What we are after is a healthy nation and family,” she said.
