Ogun govt partners with Pathfinders to train health workers on use of female condoms

Ogun State Government in collaboration with Pathfinder International has concluded arrangements to train health service providers on female condom promotion and advocacy as part of its efforts  to enhance reproductive  health  and well-being of the people. 

The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary HealthCare Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, made the disclosure  during the training designed to improve reproductive health outcomes by increasing access to and use of female condoms.

Represented by the Ogun State, Family Planning Coordinator, Mrs. Busirat Adelani, she emphasised that female condoms offer dual protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

She expressed gratitude to Pathfinder International, a renowned global health organisation for providing technical assistance and expertise on healthcare services, for their unwavering support while encouraging healthcare service providers to cascade the training to other health workers and the community at large.

Ogunsola added that the training was expected to have a positive impact on the community, enabling women and men to make informed choices about their reproductive health.

In her remarks, Representative of Pathfinder, who also serves as Chairman of Family Health Initiatives, Mrs. Oluwakemi Balogun, said the objectives of the partnership were to advocate for the supply and distribution of female condoms, raise awareness about their availability and benefits and increase the capacity of stakeholders, communities, and individuals to generate demand and advocate for increased availability of female condoms.

She appreciated the State Government for its relentless efforts in the health sector across the State, saying that the organisation would continue to do its best in promoting family planning in the State, towards reducing the high rate of unplanned pregnancy, low uptake of contraceptives by targeting key populations and vulnerable groups across the State.

Responding, Chief Nursing Officer, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Mrs. Adebukola Bankole, expressed gratitude to the State Government and Pathfinder International for organising the timely training in promoting female condoms, pledging to disseminate the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to other healthcare workers and the broader community, towards amplifying the impact of the initiative.