The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Nigeria said child Birth Spacing (CBS) is reducing the maternal mortality among women with about 33 percent.
The Non-Governmental Organisation also urged religious leaders to preach the importance of CBS in a simpler way to adherents of various religious beliefs in Plateau State.
Ms. Docas Akila made the call at a 3-day workshop to solicits religious leaders support in promoting Family Planing/childbirth spacing (FP/CBS), in Plateau State, organised by, The Change Initiative (TCI) Nigeria.
She said as religious leaders they should not lobby or protest, but should embarked on constant dialogue and engage their followers in strong strategic advocacy.
“There are a lot of myths and misconception about family planing and childbirth spacing (FP/CBS), even among religious leaders,” she said.
According to her, religious prohibitions and cultural beliefs have contributed to the limited use of contraception in many places in Nigeria, adding that religious leaders have role to play in educating the people on the need to go about child spacing.
She said childbirth spacing help in reducing the maternal mortality rate by 33 percent, besides improving the health standards of mothers.
Lead facilitator of the TCI, Doctor Olukunle Omotoso, said as religious leaders, the participants should set a SMART goal and objectives aimed at achieving the desired success in seeing childbirth spacing.
He said: “Religious leaders should do things differently than the ordinary man does, you should speak very well on childbirth spacing in Plateau State.”
