By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring access to safe, affordable, and effective contraceptive services for residents as it joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 World Contraception Day.
Speaking at a press conference to mark the occasion at the state Ministry of Health in Alausa, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Mrs Kemi Ogunyemi, emphasised that this year’s theme, “Empowering Choices: Your Future, Your Control”, underscores the right of every individual to make informed reproductive health decisions without coercion or discrimination.
Mrs Ogunyemi noted that Lagos, despite recording lower fertility rates compared to some other parts of Nigeria, still faces significant population pressure due to urban migration, thereby necessitating greater investments in family planning services.
She highlighted the wide-ranging benefits of contraceptive use, including: reduction of maternal deaths by up to 34 per cent, improved child survival rates, enhanced career opportunities for young women, and stronger family bonds.
The special Adviser further disclosed that Lagos currently boasts a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of 30.7 per cent, one of the highest in the country. She attributed it to the strategic partnerships with private health providers, civil society groups, and international development agencies such as The Challenge Initiative, International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), EngenderHealth among others.
According to her, ongoing initiatives include the introduction of self-injectable contraceptives for underserved communities, postpartum family planning services to improve child spacing, continuous training of healthcare providers across 350 public health facilities, and a dedicated family planning budget line.
Mrs. Ogunyemi assured residents that the state has adequate contraceptive supplies for at least the next three months, with procurement processes underway to ensure uninterrupted availability.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, stressed the role of family planning in reducing maternal and infant mortality, particularly deaths linked to unsafe abortions and unintended pregnancies.
Dr. Ogboye urged Lagosians to take advantage of the free family planning services available in state health facilities, adding that all methods provided are safe.
“Family planning enables parents to give their children the best possible start in life while maintaining balance within the family,” he said.
The event also addressed persistent myths surrounding contraceptive use. Mrs Ogunyemi clarified that family planning does not cause infertility, cancer, or promiscuity, and encouraged men to actively support their partners in making informed choices. She urged families, schools, and communities to foster open conversations on reproductive health to break down barriers and misconceptions.
The officials concluded with a call to all stakeholders, healthcare providers, development partners, community leaders, and the media, to intensify advocacy and collaboration in order to reduce unintended pregnancies, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and promote healthier, more prosperous families across Lagos State.
Leave a Reply