GOMBE/Nigeria: A Gombe-based NGO, Advocacy Working Group (AWG) on Family Planning has called for improved contraceptive use to enhance subscription to child spacing by families in the state.
Chairman of the group, Mr Alhassan Yahaya made the call in an interview in Gombe on Wednesday.
He said the group was optimistic that Gombe State would attain 20 per cent Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) by the end of 2022.
Yahaya said the National Demographic Health Survey report covering between 2013 and 2018, showed that the state recorded 17 per cent CPR increase.
”Gombe is the only state in the entire northern Nigeria to record this progress in CPR within a short period of time.
”This success story is largely due to the level of advocacy in the state that has made more women to access child spacing services,” he said.
Yahaya further stated that improved contraceptive usage would help to reduce maternal mortality rate in the state.
”Research has shown that child spacing can avert about 40 per cent of maternal and child deaths,” he said.
He commended the Gombe State Government for creating budgetary line for child spacing.
”We are, however, appealing that funds should be released timely to ensure efficient support to families.
”The government has to show more commitment to this issue, partner agencies are fast closing out,” he said.
AWG is a body of professionals drwan from different disciplines, committed to promoting effective family planning.
