Kwara state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, has emphasized the need for increased male participation in family planning initiatives, stating that male engagement remains one of the missing links in achieving large-scale impact in reproductive health.
Speaking during the Society for Family Health (SFH) Delivering Innovation in Self-Car (DISC) 2.0 biannual stakeholders coordination meeting in Ilorin, the state capital on Wednesday, the commissioner highlighted that most family planning decisions in Nigeria still rest solely on women, despite the fact that pregnancy involves both partners.
“We cannot take unilateral decisions about when to have babies or how many to have. In most of our homes, men are the heads of households, and unless we get male buy-in, we will continue to roll around marginal improvement”, she said.
Dr. El-Imam stressed the importance of sensitising men through structured community engagement, including outreach in mosques, churches and male-dominated spaces.
“We need to build a critical mass of men who understand the benefits of safe child-spacing. Not just 10 men in a small training, but like 2,000 men at an engagement”, she said.
The commissioner said that family planning was not about stopping procreation but about making informed decisions for the well-being of women, children, and families.
“You and your wife should decide together how many children you want and the years between them—for her health, for your peace of mind, and for the future of your childre”, she admonished
Highlighting the broader impact of reproductive health interventions, the commissioner celebrated frontline health workers and project partners for helping to prevent over 1,000 unwanted pregnancies in Kwara state within the last cycle.
“That’s 1,000 fewer unsafe abortions, 1,000 women able to pursue their education or careers, and 1,000 healthier families. You have made having children pleasant again, not a chore. And for that, I say thank you”, she said.
She also commended the Society for Family Health for introducing empathy-based counselling practices, noting that the humane approach had significantly improved health outcomes across the state.
“We’ve moved beyond the era of ticking boxes and shouting at patients. You are putting yourselves in their shoes—and the results are showing”, she said.
The Kwara state Project Manager for The Challenge Initiatives (TCI), Dr. Wale Adefila, reiterated importance of the stakeholders meeting, saying that data and information are essential in programme implementation.
Also speaking, the state coordinator for Family Planning, Hajia Bashirat Jatto, outlined the meeting’s key objectives. These, she said, included reviewing the progress and outcomes of the DISC 2.0 project across all 16 LGAs, strengthening collaboration at all administrative levels, and promoting data-driven decision-making to enhance sexual and reproductive health service delivery.
She noted that self-injection uptake had increased from 1,382 users in July 2024 to 4,167 by May 2025—a significant leap indicating growing awareness and trust in self-care methods.
She also revealed that the project’s demand generation efforts have targeted young urban women aged 18–24 and women of reproductive age (15–49) through trained interpersonal communication agents, community extension workers, and ward development representatives.
Representing the SFH Managing Director, Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, and the DISC 2.0 project lead, Dr. Anthony Nwala, Ann health expert, Mallam Umar Adamu, highlighted the project’s milestones, particularly in capacity building and service delivery.
He stated that over 660 healthcare providers across 323 facilities in Kwara State have been trained in Counselling for Choice (C4C) and empathy-based approaches to family planning.
“These trainings are not just theoretical. Every provider received practical tools—including C4C booklets—to guide their conversations with clients. We are also using digital checklists and supportive supervision to ensure quality service delivery and close the access gap, especially in hard-to-reach communities”, he said.
Adamu added that the DISC 2.0 project—funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) with technical support from Population Services International (PSI)—is committed to making family planning more responsive, respectful, and accessible for all.
“Our work aligns not just with SFH’s strategic plan but with the state’s broader vision for maternal and child health, We are not only expanding access but also building sustainability by integrating our work into the state’s Annual Operational Plan and contributing to maternal and neonatal mortality reduction goals.”, he said
Participants at the meeting included directors, development partners, monitoring and evaluation officers, media representatives, and grassroots stakeholders.
With its focus on strengthening local ownership, data-informed service delivery, and equitable access, the DISC 2.0 project is gradually reshaping how family planning services are understood, delivered, and sustained in Kwara State.
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