By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

The Kwara State Health Promotion Officer, Jibril Abdulkareem, has canvassed for strategic male involvement in child spacing services to improve maternal and child health

Abdulkareem,speaking at a Male Engagement Programme held in Okelele community in Ilorin East Local Government Area, emphasized the benefits of child spacing contraceptives in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among families and communities.

He explained that the Male Engagement sessions are currently being held in 13 out of the 16 LGAs in Kwara State with the support of Society for Family Health (SFH) DISC 2.0 project and her funder Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).

The state Health Promotion Officer noted that proper utilization of these services would enhance health outcomes in the state and urged traditional and religious leaders to support the DISC 2.0 initiative by ensuring grassroots sensitization of men, who will in turn inform their households about the benefits of child spacing for both.

He also commended introduction of the self-injection method, which would reduce frequent visits to the health facilities by women who prefer this FP method.

In her remarks, the State Programme Advisor, Tolani Fagbohun, expressed satisfaction over the male’s turnout for the engagement.

She explained that male participation in the programme is strategic so as to record a huge success in Kwara’s government drive to reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR).

Fagbohun added that stakeholders and community groups had critical roles to play in creating awareness about access and uptake of family planning which has been proven as one of the biggest contributory to the reduction of maternal mortality.

She , added that DISC 2.0 intervention aims to enhance individuals’ ability to manage their health through self-care practices, such as healthy behaviors, disease prevention, and management of minor ailments in low-income communities.

She said that the programme is to equip participants with knowledge on how to expand access to essential self-care products, including contraceptives, menstrual health products, particularly for vulnerable populations. This, in turn, would support informed decision-making among husbands and wives.

The State Programme Advisor further revealed that the male orientation sessions aimed to sensitize men and fathers to support and promote child spacing and effective self-injection practices.
According to her, “supportive male partners will empower their women and wives to carry out healthy child spacing, take advantage of educational and economic opportunities, thereby improving the future of his wife, children and family.”

Stakeholders at the event therefore, demonstrated their commitment to promoting and advocating for the Delivering Innovation in Self-care (DISC 2.0) project in Kwara State.