Family Planning: Medical expert urges TCI to complete 100 per cent uptake among women in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

A medical expert, Beatrice Oluwatoyin Iyanda, has appealed to The Challenge Initiative (TCI) to reconsider its departure from Osun State until 100% of the targeted population has been reached.

Since July 2022, The Challenge Initiative (TCI) has been supporting Osun State, creating awareness about high-quality family planning services. The TCI works with the Government to improve family planning and reproductive health. It is working in 10 local governments in the state.

Iyanda, the Health Promotion Officer, Osogbo Local Government, PHC, made the appeal during the family planning neighborhood campaign in Oke-Baale.

Speaking on the success of the family planning campaign in the State, she noted that the intervention of TCI has led to a significant increase in the acceptance of family planning among the population.

Specifically, Iyanda said the acceptance rate of family planning has risen to 55% in Osogbo Local Government Area, from a mere 10% before TCI’s intervention.

She attributed the success to the sensitization and mobilization efforts of TCI, which has helped to educate people about the benefits of family planning.

However, Iyanda expressed concern that TCI may be leaving Osun State soon, leaving the remaining 45% of the population uncovered.

She appealed to TCI to wait until the remaining population has been covered, ensuring that the family planning awareness campaign reaches 100% of the population.

A mobilizer, Kehinde Aliu noted that the use of “GO Cards” has been effective in encouraging people to access family planning services, saying “We can go to parties, meetings, and other places to campaign about FP. When we get there we talk to them and anybody that show interest in it, we give them “GO Card”. With the card, they know the facility to go and access the FP.”