Edo trains nurses on family planning, reproductive health

Edo State Ministry of Health on Wednesday commenced a five-day training for nurses of the Primary Health Centers in the 18 local government areas of the state.

Speaking during the training focused on Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), a key element in enhancing reproductive health care, Dr. Stanley Ehiarimwian, Permanent Secretary Edo State Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of partnerships in delivering comprehensive healthcare services.

According to him, “No government can solely cater to all the needs of its people. Partnerships like this are invaluable, and our priority in Edo’s health sector is to improve healthcare through all possible means. This training is a vital part of that effort.”

Ehiarimwian assured the partners that the material and non-material support provided would be effectively utilized.

He also stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring and evaluation to measure the initiative’s impact, reminding participants that family planning is a collective responsibility while urging them to engage in the training to ensure its success.

Mrs. Bolarinwa Popoola, representing the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, commended the Edo State Government for its receptiveness and smooth collaboration.

She expressed gratitude to DKT Nigeria International for leading the initiative, noting that it aligns perfectly with the ministry’s mandate to enhance reproductive health services across the nation.

Mrs. Umolu Ezinwa, Clinical Services Manager for the Middle Belt at DKT Nigeria International, spoke on the significance of the training, stating, “This training is designed to equip providers with the knowledge and skills to guide clients in safe family planning and child spacing methods. We aim to bridge the training gap among service providers across the country because we believe that family planning is the only immunization against maternal mortality.”

In addition to the training, Odeniran Sarah, Senior Hospital Sales Clinical Services for West Africa 2 at DKT Nigeria International, announced a donation of 10,000 units of intrauterine devices (IUDs) worth over ten million naira to the state.

She also mentioned plans for community engagement to further amplify the impact of the initiative, expressing her gratitude to the Edo State Government for its support in training nurses to become family planning ambassadors.

Adja Abieuwa, Edo State Reproductive Health Coordinator, praised the state government and DKT Nigeria for the initiative, highlighting that it demonstrates the government’s commitment to providing Edo women with the necessary tools and support to effectively plan for childbirth.

The nurses who participated in the training expressed their appreciation to the state government and its partners. They pledged to apply the knowledge gained to improve family planning services in their respective communities.