Lagos State Tackles Contraceptive Access Through Community Programs

The Lagos State government is starting community programs to help people access contraceptives and improve family planning in the state.

Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, shared this news with reporters during the launch of the Avibela Hormonal Intrauterine Device (IUD) in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.

She said the state's family planning plans include engaging men, traditional leaders, religious leaders, and other important members of the community to clear up misunderstandings and boost acceptance of contraceptive services.

"We believe that no matter how you look at it, men still have this power over women’s choices," Ms Ogunyemi stated.

She pointed out that involving men is especially crucial for IUD users. Some women ask to have the device removed because their husbands feel the strings during sex.

Ms Ogunyemi mentioned that ongoing awareness campaigns have helped break down myths, wrong information, and confusion about family planning and contraceptive use.

She added that the government is looking for ways to improve access to family planning services in riverine and hard-to-reach areas, where residents often struggle to get healthcare.

"We are working towards that. We need to build more primary healthcare facilities. We are hiring more people to go there," she said.

Despite efforts to improve reproductive healthcare, Nigeria still has big gaps in access to modern contraceptives.

Women make up almost half of Nigeria's over 200 million people, but many still do not use modern contraceptive methods. Health experts say millions of women of childbearing age still need family planning services.

Nigeria has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world. Unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and high birth rates lead to many preventable maternal and newborn deaths. Public health experts say family planning is one of the best ways to improve maternal and child health.

Women have different contraceptive options, including condoms, diaphragms, vaginal rings, and IUDs, which can be hormonal or non-hormonal.

At the launch event, DKT International, a social enterprise that focuses on sexual and reproductive health products, introduced Avibela, a hormone-releasing IUD that can prevent pregnancy for up to eight years.

This T-shaped device is placed inside the uterus by a trained healthcare worker and slowly releases levonorgestrel, a hormone found in contraceptive pills.

During a keynote speech, Ayodeji Oluwole, chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), said Nigeria's unmet need for contraception comes from many issues. These include supply chain problems, fear of side effects, cultural and religious concerns, and differences in access between urban and rural areas.

He noted that about one in five Nigerian women of childbearing age has an unmet need for contraception, and around 6.8 million unintended pregnancies happen each year.

The Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Lagos explained that hormonal IUDs solve many issues related to contraceptive use. They offer a highly effective, long-lasting, and reversible option that does not require daily attention.

"They bypass the need for daily pill adherence while simultaneously offering clinical health benefits that help reduce cultural stigmas, ultimately increasing family planning acceptance nationwide," Mr Oluwole said.

Also speaking, Debo Satapathy, DKT International’s Country Director, mentioned that the organization is collaborating with private healthcare providers, non-profits, and government health agencies to make sure the product is widely available in Nigeria.

He added that Avibela is already sold in over 19 countries and went through thorough clinical testing before entering the Nigerian market.

"We make sure that every batch that we get here is lab tested before they are distributed in the system," he said.

Mr Satapathy noted that DKT International plans to run outreach programs to provide the product free of charge to women who cannot afford it.