By Esther Edebor
In a concerted effort to strengthen family planning services in Edo State, the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with DKT Nigeria International and with support from the Federal Ministry of Health, has conducted an intensive five-day training programme for nurses from Primary Health Centres across the 18 local government areas of the State.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Stanley Ehiarimwian, underscored the importance of partnerships in delivering comprehensive healthcare services.
According to him, “No government can solely cater to all the needs of its people. Partnerships like this are invaluable, and our priority in Edo’s health sector is to improve healthcare through all possible means. This training is a vital part of that effort.”
Ehiarimwian assured the partners that all the support provided, both material and non-material, would be effectively utilized. He also stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring and evaluation to measure the initiative’s impact; reminding participants that family planning is a collective responsibility and urging them to fully engage with the training to ensure its success.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Bolarinwa Popoola, commended Edo State Government for its receptiveness and smooth collaboration. She expressed gratitude to DKT Nigeria International for leading the initiative, noting that it aligns perfectly with her Ministry’s mandate to enhance reproductive health services across the Nation.
The Clinical Services Manager for the Middle Belt at DKT Nigeria International, Mrs. Umolu Ezinwa, spoke on the significance of the training. “This training is designed to equip providers with the knowledge and skills to guide clients in safe family planning and child spacing methods. We aim to bridge the training gap among service providers across the country because we believe that family planning is the only immunization against maternal mortality”, she stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Senior Hospital Sales Clinical Services for West Africa ‘2’ at DKT Nigeria International, Odeniran Sarah announced a donation of 10,000 units of intrauterine devices (IUDs) worth over ten million Naira to the State. She also mentioned plans for community engagements to further amplify the impact of the initiative, expressing her gratitude to Edo State Government for its support in training nurses to become family planning ambassadors.
The Edo State Reproductive Health Coordinator, Adja Abieuwa, praised the State Government and DKT Nigeria for the initiative, highlighting that it demonstrates the State Government’s commitment to providing Edo women with the necessary tools and support to effectively plan for childbirth. She stated that the training focused on Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), a key element in enhancing reproductive health care in the State.
The nurses who participated in the training expressed their appreciation to the State Government and its partners, pledging to apply the knowledge gained to improve family planning services in their respective communities. The training marks a significant step towards making reproductive health services more accessible to women across Edo State and contributing to the overall wellbeing of the population.
