FG, UNFPA Unveil Guidelines On Safe Termination Of Pregnancy

Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and other partners has inaugurated three key reproductive health policies to accelerate family planning uptake, as well as reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria.

Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health, who was represented by the Director of Family Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, unveiled the documents in Abuja on Tuesday.

The documents that were unveiled are: the National Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal indications and National Depot-MedroxyProgesterone Acetate-Sub Cutaneous (DMPA-SC) Accelerated Introduction and Scale-up Plan (2018-2022).

DMPA-SC is a modern family planning method that combines the contraceptive drug and needle into a single unit. It is administered sub-coetaneously (under the skin).

The other documents, also inaugurated by the minister, was the Global Family Planning Visibility and Analytical Network with the National Logistics Management Information System (NAVISION).

“The documents will support the government and its partners to speed their efforts on family planning.

“It will also catalyze efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity thereby improving the health of women and girls in Nigeria,’’ Adewole said.

Also, the Acting Country Representative of UNFPA, Dr. Eugene Kongnyuy noted that the three documents was very important to UNFPA.

Kongnyuy, represented by Dr. Titi Duro-Aino, a Reproductive Health Analyst, UNFPA, said: “The documents that are very dear to UNFPA are the National Depot-MedroxyProgesterone Acetate Sub Cutaneous (DMPA-SC) Accelerated Introduction and Scale-up Plan (2018-2022).

“The DMPA-SC will allow women in rural and hard-to-reach areas access and use it to prevent unwanted pregnancies.’’

According to him, the Global Family Planning Visibility and Analytical Network allow visibility into the supply chain.

“It enables the stakeholders to track exactly where family planning commodities are to avoid overstocking and stock-out of these commodities.

“It also enables women who need the commodities to get it as at when due,’’ he said

Kongnyuy said the commodities were free at all public health facilities in the country.

He said the third document, the National Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal indications, would ensure that reproductive rights of women were upheld.