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Adamawa State has recorded a 40% surge in the number of new acceptors of family planning methods over the past year, according to The Challenge Initiative (TCI), a non-governmental organisation focused on reproductive health.
The significant growth is attributed to a coordinated campaign led by TCI in partnership with the Adamawa State Government to expand access to family planning services. The initiative has involved the provision of consumables, increased community engagement through neighbourhood campaigns, and intensified efforts to combat stigma surrounding contraceptive use.
The figures were disclosed by Mr. Godiya Yusuf, TCI’s State Programme Manager, during a media roundtable on family planning held in Yola. The event, organised by TCI in collaboration with Development Communications Network (DevComs), brought together stakeholders from the health sector, media, and traditional and religious institutions.
Yusuf noted that the partnership with the state government had yielded substantial progress since its inception.
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“In 2022, the state recorded 47,980 new family planning acceptors and 19,024 users of modern contraceptives. As of June 2024, that number rose to 104,486 new acceptors and 79,064 users, representing a 40% and 78% increase, respectively,” he said.
He highlighted several key drivers of the campaign’s success, including the training of service providers, routine facility monitoring and supervision, and sustained community outreach.
In his remarks, Felix Tangwami, Adamawa State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, represented by Zirra Bubanani, Permanent Secretary, underscored the importance of family planning in enhancing maternal and child health outcomes and contributing to national development.
“Child spacing is essential for maternal health. It allows women to recover before conceiving again, reducing risks of complications or death,” Tangwami said. “We’ve seen women give birth to 10 or more children in rapid succession, which increases maternal health risks. We encourage women to embrace family planning.”
Aisha Garba, a Reproductive health advocate, noted that advocacy and awareness creation have been key to the project’s impact. She emphasised the importance of sustained support from both the government and development partners in improving access to services.
“There are about 1.2 million women of reproductive age in Adamawa. So far, we have recorded 149,000 new acceptors and 149,155 users of modern contraceptives,” she said.
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However, Garba pointed out persistent challenges, particularly among rural women who harbour misconceptions about family planning.
“Many believe that it limits how many children they can have. But family planning is about spacing births, not restricting them,” she explained. “Pregnancy should be by choice, not by chance.”
Also speaking at the event, Tulhungu Uziel, the state’s reproductive health focal person, noted that women with pre-existing health conditions face the greatest risks from unspaced pregnancies. She encouraged women to take advantage of the 902 family planning service points available across the state.
“Our providers are trained to educate and dispel myths, especially the fear that contraceptives cause infertility,” Uziel said. “The goal is to promote healthier families and reduce preventable maternal deaths.”
