By SOLA OGUNDIPE

AS part of efforts to empower women and girls in Nigeria make informed reproductive health choices, no less than four million female condoms have been received by the Society for Family Health, SFH from the United Nations Population Fund,UNFPA, under the Universal Access to Female Condom, UAFC, Country Programme Phase II initiative.

”In a chat during the handing over of the consignment in Lagos last week at the SFH warehouse in Otta, Ogun State, Resident Representative, UNFPA, Ms. Victoria Akyeampong, observed that the move was essential towards making access to female  condoms more feasible in Nigeria.

“Unlike other methods of contraceptive, the female condomis unpopular and often overlooked by end users. Findings from Nigeria’s Demographic Health Surveys reveals that 35 percent of unmarried woimen use the male condom in contrast to 0.2 percent who use the female condom.

“Without access to relevant informationand quality services which encompasses a wider range of contraceptive methods, we will fail to achieve our aim to ensure universal access to reproductive health services,” Akyeampong stated.

Further, she stressed  UNFPA’s commitment to making reproductive rights a reality for women and girls through improved access to effective methods of contraception such as the female condom.

Speaking on UNFPA’s partnership with the UAFC Programme, Chioma Ukwuagu, Country Represene healthy reproductive health choices. The Female Condom has been brought to the front burner; and Nigeria is one of the countries that have made a commitment to female condom programming.”

Archibong noted that the provision of these female condoms by UNFPA “is a step in the right direction demonstrating support for national female condom programming”. SFH is also grateful to UAFC partners in Nigeria: Federal Ministry of Health, United Nations Population Fund, Education as a Vaccine, and the Association for Reproductive and Family Health who have shown consistent involvement in making sure that female condoms are available and that men and women are aware and know how to use them.