The Delta State government, yesterday, warned medical personnel against providing under-aged girl children with abortion pills and contraceptive pills, which might endanger their lives, stressing that violators would face prosecution.  
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The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General (AG), Ohwovoriole Ekemejero, gave the warning at the World Contraception Day held in Asaba, the State capital.
  
Ohwovoriole, who spoke via the Director of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit, Patricia Akanagwuna, said that providing minors access to these facilities without the consent of the girl child’s parents or guardian is illegal in the eye of the law, noting that those who are involved must be punished accordingly.
 
He advised the medical practitioners to, as principles, “allow individual women to make informed choices about their reproductive health, free from coercion or judgment, in addition to protecting their right to confidentiality when seeking contraceptive services.
  
A Senior Lecturer at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), and Project Director, the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Dr. Jedidiah Sodje, disclosed that Nigeria is currently facing significant challenges in maternal and child health.
 
He said: “Statistics revealed that the country has the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world, leading to the death of approximately 512 women per 100,000 live births, and one in eight children does not reach their fifth birthday. “
  
To reduce these alarming statistics, Sodje advised: “We key into family planning, “ saying that it provides individuals and couples with the means to decide the number and spacing of their children. 
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