‎From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

A family planning expert‎, Omorere Adesuwa, has cautioned young adults of reproductive age against unsafe abortion.

Adesuwa who spoke at a community dialogue organised by the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, NURHI, in Benin, said the high rate of death among women occasioned by lack of child spacing could largely be attributed to ignorance.

This, she said, was why NURHI organised the sensitisation campaign across the three municipal local government areas of Egor, Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo in Benin.

She canvassed for alternative measures like family planning and other certified medical means to avoid unsafe abortion and other risky medical practices.‎

The community dialogue which held at the King’s Square, attracted many residents of the area, including market women.

Earlier in the week during a neighbourhood campaign, ‎the Behavioural Change Communication Consultant for NURHI, Benin office, Omwenyeke Kingsley, said the essence of the campaign was “to reach everyone that is available on the streets and from house to house” with the family planning message.

Kingsley disclosed that NURHI endeavours to sensitise everyone, especially sexually active adolescents,‎ on the need to secure a better future for themselves by avoiding dangerous health practices.

While commending HURHI for its efforts at creating awareness on family planning in the state, residents visited during the neighbourhood campaign called for synergy between government and other stakeholders to step up family planning campaign in rural communities.

A public school teacher, Roseline Osamudiamen, said with the coming of NURHI to Edo State, awareness on family planning has greatly increased.

“I have known about family planning before now, but ever since NURHI came to the state, awareness of family planning has assumed a new height. I have seen then on the TV and have heard of them over the radio. They have helped us to see the need to plan our families properly,” she said.

NURHI presently operates in six Nigerian cities of Benin, Abuja, Ibadan, Kaduna, Zaria and Ilorin, creating awareness on family planning among the urban population.