Family Planning Service Providers in Ogun state Monday lamented the low turnout of females procuring various family planning methods as a result of the lockdown following the outbreak of Coronavirus in the state.
Some of the providers who spoke to our correspondent when he visited their health care centres in Abeokuta, the state capital, revealed that the development might lead to population surge in the state.
According to them, with the high rate of fertility in Nigeria and the low prevalence of the adoption of contraceptives, Nigeria should expect a significant increase in the population, especially now that many parts of the country is on lockdown.
Speaking to Blueprint, Mrs. Florence Idowu, a Chief Nursing Officer at a Family Health Care centre, located in Oke-Ilewo in Abeokuta South Local government area, attributed the low turnout of family planning clients to difficulties in getting to the centres.
She said, “Our major challenge is how to get people here. For those that are stranded, most of the time, I use my vehicle to convey them from their various destinations down to the centre.
“The number of clients coming to the centre to procure family planning methods has significantly reduced since the implementation of the lockdown order. Only few clients that have the means of transportation come.”
Idowu said, although, family planning services are free of charge and there are enough commodities available at the centre, the lockdown had prevented people from coming to the hospital.
Another service provider, Funmilayo Ogunrinde who spoke to Blueprint, disclosed that only five clients visited her centre last week for family planning services.
Ogunrinde, a health attendant at a Health Care centre, located in Adigbe, Abeokuta North Local government area of the state, said “The number of patients that come to the centre since the lockdown began has reduced drastically. But we attend to patients every day.”
She added, “Most of the clients that come to centre for family planning are fresh applicants.”
Sharing her experience of using family planning with our correspondent, Mrs. Abiola Adebowale said she had never recorded side effect with family planning, adding that method she adopted had never failed her.
