International Girl Child Day: Osun Govt Urges Parents To Protect Children

•Dispels Family Planning Myths, Misconceptions

 

As the world celebrates International Girl Child Day, the Osun State Government on Friday urged parents to cater for the needs of their adolescent children.

This was as the government harper on the need for families to adopt a family planning method to live a better and healthier life.

The state Family Planning Coordinator, Mrs Ololade Abatan, while addressing participants at a media round table with FP stakeholders organized by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in Osogbo, said the case of adolescent pregnancy in the state was on the rise.

She said, “It is very key for parents to take adequate care of our adolescent children. Prepare them to have a better future. We need to cater to their needs and give them adequate education.

“The case of adolescents getting pregnant in the state is not on the decline. The last percentage given to us for teenage pregnancy is between 39 to 40 per cent which is on the high side. This means if we have 10 adolescent girls, four of them will be pregnant. This is very high.”

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Earlier, while delivering a paper titled, ‘Debunking Myths: Addressing Clients Misconception In Family Planning, Abatan said there is a need for all stakeholders to collaborate to end the misconception about FP.

She noted that all the myths and misconceptions about family planning were not true, adding that taking up a family planning method will not only prevent high-risk pregnancies but also ensure birth spacing and reduce unsafe abortions.

She urged all stakeholders to collaborate in addressing the misconception, adding that by doing so, it will improve health outcomes for women and families.

She said, “I will urge our people to go and adopt a family planning method. All the myths and misconceptions about FP are not true.

“Taking up a family planning method will not only prevent high-risk pregnancies but also ensure birth spacing which will allow for women to adequately recover before pregnancies.

“I want to appeal to the stakeholders – religious leaders, community leaders, media and others to collaborate to end this misconceptions.”