The Anambra Government says 18,389 new family planning acceptors were registered across the state between January and June.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed this, on Monday, at a news conferenc in Awka, organised to commemorate the 2026 World Contraception Day.
World Contraception Day is observed annually on September 26 to improve awareness about available contraceptive methods and empower young people to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health.
This year’s event had the theme, “No Barriers, Just Choices”.
Obidike, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Obiageli Uchebo, said the state was committed to ensuring that residents had access to contraceptive commodities, accurate information and professional counselling.
“Access to contraception goes beyond the availability of commodities.
“People need accurate information, quality counselling and access to a range of safe and effective family planning methods to make informed choices,” the commissioner said.
He further said the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey showed that 15 per cent of currently married women, aged 15 to 49, in Anambra had an unmet need for family planning.
According to him, although the figure placed Anambra among states with the lowest unmet need for family planning in Nigeria, the government would continue with its efforts to close existing gaps.
Obidike said that 146,183 clients were counselled on family planning in 2025, resulting in 44,615 new acceptors.
He explained that between January and June, 73,687 clients received family planning counselling, with 18,389 registering as new acceptors.
He said that health facilities across the state provided 13,726 injectable contraceptives, 5,402 implants and 537 intrauterine device insertions during the period.
The commissioner also said that 11,186 clients accessed condom services, while postpartum family planning services were also expanded.
“During the period, 17,814 women received postpartum family planning counselling, including 978 postpartum Implanon NXT insertions and 489 Jadelle insertions,” he said.
He said that family planning could help prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce pregnancy-related complications and maternal deaths as well as lower the risks associated with unsafe abortion.
He said that beyond health benefits, family planning could support women’s education, economic participation and overall family wellbeing.
“Contraceptive services should be based on informed choice.
“Healthcare providers must offer respectful, confidential and non-judgmental counselling so that individuals can make decisions based on accurate information,” he said.
Obidike affirmed the commitment of the State Government to strengthening reproductive health services and improving access to family planning.
He also called on healthcare workers, development partners, community leaders and the media to intensify efforts to correct misinformation and dispel myths surrounding contraception.
Also speaking, the Assistant Family Planning Coordinator in the ministry, Mrs Chioma Okedo, identified myths, misconceptions, cultural practices and religious beliefs as major barriers to contraceptive uptake.
Okedo said some people still wrongly believed that contraception causes infertility or death, while certain cultural beliefs associate women’s use of family planning with infidelity.
She said that some Christians mistakenly equate family planning with abortion, while provider bias could also discourage people from seeking contraceptive services.
“We must continue to provide correct information and address the misconceptions that prevent people from making informed choices about their reproductive health,” Okedo said.
The event featured a road show through major roads of Awka to create awareness about family planning. (NAN)
